Fast Interplanetary Missions with Low-Thrust Propulsion Systems

A simple family of indirect transfer trajectories between circular orbits is used to evaluate the mass ratio required to complete round-trip interplanetary missions using low-thrust propulsion systems. The results indicate that indirect interplanetary trajectories yield substantial reductions in total round-trip time for low-thrust as well as high-thrust vehicles, and that space vehicles propelled with electric rockets may produce greater reductions in trip time, for a given initial weight, than those propelled by high-thrust nuclear rockets.