Flight Path Control Analysis for Parker Solar Probe

An unprecedented NASA mission to study the Sun, known as Parker Solar Probe
(PSP), is under development. The primary objective of the PSP mission is to gather
new data within 10 solar radii of the Sun’s center. The purpose of this paper is to
review the statistical analysis of trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs) for PSP’s
baseline trajectory. The baseline mission includes a total of 42 TCMs that will be
accomplished with a monopropellant propulsion system that consists of twelve
4.4 N thrusters. Assuming current navigation models, statistical analyses for each
reference trajectory during the 20-day launch period result in a total V99 of less
than 100 m/s.