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Fuel-Optimal Trajectories in a Planet-Moon Environment Using Multiple Gravity AssistsFor low energy spacecraft trajectories such as multi-moon orbiters for the Jupiter system, multiple gravity assists by moons could be used in conjunction with ballistic capture to drastically decrease fuel usage. In this paper, we outline a procedure to obtain a family of zero-fuel multi-moon orbiter trajectories, using a family of Keplerian maps derived by the first author previously. The maps capture well the dynamics of the full equations of motion; the phase space contains a connected chaotic zone where intersections between unstable resonant orbit manifolds provide the template for lanes of fast migration between orbits of different semimajor axes. Patched three body approach is used and the four body problem is broken down into two three-body problems, and the search space is considerably reduced by the use of properties of the Keplerian maps. We also introduce the notion of Switching Region where the perturbations due to the two perturbing moons are of comparable strength, and which separates the domains of applicability of the corresponding two Keplerian maps.
Document ID
20080012724
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ross, Shane D.
(Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Blacksburg, VA, United States)
Grover, Piyush
(Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Blacksburg, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
September 24, 2007
Publication Information
Publication: Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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