A key challenge in low-thrust trajectory design is generating preliminary solutions that simultaneously specify the spacecraft position and velocity vectors, as well as the thrust history. To mitigate this difficulty, dynamical structures within a combined low-thrust circular restricted 3-body problem (CR3BP) are investigated as candidate solutions to seed initial low-thrust trajectory designs. The addition of a low-thrust force to the CR3BP modifies the locations and stability of the equilibria, offering novel geometries for mission applications. Transfers between these novel equilibria are constructed by leveraging the associated stable and unstable manifolds and insights from the low-thrust CR3BP.
Trajectory Design Leveraging Low-Thrust, Multi-Body Equilibria and their Manifolds
J Astronaut Sci
The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences ; 67 , 3 ; 977-1001
2020-09-01
25 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English