An investigation into critical aspects of a new form of low energy lunar transfer, the Belbruno-Miller trajectoriesThis paper documents an integrated Belbruno-Miller (B-M) trajectory and its corresponding injection period. The B-M trajectories use Weak Stability Boundaries (WSB) resulting from four-body perturbative dynamics between the earth, moon, sun, and spacecraft to significantly reduce maneuver requirements for lunar transfer. It is determined that the presented nominal trajectory has a viable 4-day injection period considering maneuver constraints. The nominal B-M trajectory produces saving varying from 150 m/s to 222 m/s over traditional Hohmann means thus pointing to the practical utility of the WSB method. Energy savings are extracted at the price of extended flight time of approximately 6-months. Usefulness of this procedure was recently dramatized by the Japanese spacecraft Hiten when it arrived a the moon on October 2, 1991 following its entry into B-M trajectory on April 25, 1991.
Document ID
19920069473
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Krish, V. (MIT, Cambridge, MA; JPL, Pasadena CA, United States)
Belbruno, E. A. (JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hollister, W. M. (MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)