A Comprehensive Review of Constrained Control for Terminal Spacecraft Rendezvous and Proximity Operations

This review surveys control methods for stabilizing the coupled translational–rotational relative motion of a chaser spacecraft during rendezvous and proximity operations. Rendezvous and proximity operations campaigns comprise multiple phases, including launch, phasing, far-range rendezvous, close-range rendezvous, and terminal approach. This paper focuses on the terminal proximity phases, where precise relative position and attitude regulation of the chaser with respect to a target is essential for safety and mission success. The surveyed literature is organized into two controller-strategy families: concurrent attitude and position control (CAPC), in which translational and attitude subsystems operate simultaneously but remain structurally separated, and integrated attitude and position control (IAPC), in which translational–rotational coupling is modeled and exploited within a unified formulation. Using this taxonomy, we (i) synthesize representative flight missions to clarify operational concepts and recurring guidance, navigation, and control building blocks, and (ii) identify recurring research gaps and open problems across mission complexity, convergence guarantees, constraint handling, actuator configurations, and robustness to disturbances and target motion. The resulting synthesis provides a structured reference for researchers and supports the development of more reliable and flight-relevant terminal-phase rendezvous and proximity operations controllers.