Halo Orbits around Sun-Earth L1 in Photogravitational Restricted Three-Body Problem with Oblateness of Smaller Primary

This paper deals with generation of halo orbits in the three-dimensional photogravitational restricted three-body problem, where the more massive primary is considered as the source of radiation and the smaller primary is an oblate spheroid with its equatorial plane coincident with the plane of motion. Both the terms due to oblateness of the smaller primary are considered. Numerical as well as analytical solutions are obtained around the Lagrangian point L1, which lies between the primaries, of the Sun-Earth system. A comparison with the real time flight data of SOHO mission is made. Inclusion of oblateness of the smaller primary can improve the accuracy. Due to the effect of radiation pressure and oblateness, the size and the orbital period of the halo orbit around L1 are found to increase.

Oblateness Effect of Saturn on Halo Orbits of L1 and L2 in Saturn-Satellites Restricted Three-Body Problem

The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CRTBP) with more massive primary as an oblate spheroid with its equatorial plane coincident with the plane of motion of the primaries is considered to generate the halo orbits around L1 and L2 for the seven satellites (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan and Iapetus) of Saturn in the frame work of CRTBP. It is found that the oblateness effect of Saturn on the halo orbits of the satellites closer to Saturn has significant effect compared to the satellites away from it. The halo orbits L1 and L2 are found to move towards Saturn with oblateness.

Nonlinear dynamics and station-keeping control of a rotating tethered satellite system in halo orbits

The dynamics of a rotating tethered satellite system （TSS） in the vicinity of libration points are highly nonlinear and inherently unstable. In order to fulfill the station-keep control of the rotating TSS along halo orbits, a nonlinear output tracking control scheme based on the θ- D technique is proposed. Compared with the popular time-variant linear quadratic regulator （LQR） controller, this approach overcomes some limitations such as on-line computations of the algebraic Riccati equation. Besides, the obtained nonlinear suboptimal controller is in a closed form and easy to implement. Numerical simulations show that the TTS trajectories track the periodic reference orbit with low energy consumption in the presence of both tether and initial injection errors. The axis of rotation can keep pointing to an inertial specific object to fulfill an observation mission. In addition, the thrusts required by the controller are in an acceptable range and can be implemented through some low-thrust propulsion devices.

Formation reconfiguration in restricted three body problem

Reconfiguration of formation flying around a halo orbit of the Sun-Earth restricted three body system is investigated with impulse maneuvers. For a short time reconfiguration, the two-impulse maneuver is investigated with both analytical and numerical methods and the Beginning-Ending （BE） method is proven to be an energy-optimal one of all two-impulse （TI） reconfigurations, and the energy consumption of BE is independent of the position of the chief spacecraft, and decreases with the reconfiguration time. Then, genetic algorithm is adopted to optimize the energy consumption. The results show that the optimal energy increases with radius difference between the initial and final orbits, and decreases with the reconfiguration time.

An improved numerical method for constructing Halo/Lissajous orbits in a full solar system model

An improved numerical method that can construct Halo/Lissajous orbits in the vicinity of collinear libration points in a full solar system model is investigated. A full solar system gravitational model in the geocentric rotating coordinate system with a clear presentation of the angular velocity relative to the inertial coordinate system is proposed. An alternative way to determine patch points in the multiple shooting method is provided based on a dynamical analysis with Poincare′sections. By employing the new patch points and sequential quadratic programming, Halo orbits for L1, L2, and L3points as well as Lissajous orbits for L1and L2points in the EarthMoon system are generated with the proposed full solar system gravitational model to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Solar radiation pressure used for formation flying control around the Sun-Earth libration point

Solar radiation pressure is used to control the formation flying around the L2 libration point in the Sun-Earth system. Formation flying control around a halo orbit requires a very small thrust that cannot be satisfied by the latest thrusters. The key contribution of this paper is that the continuous low thrust is produced by solar radiation pressure to achieve the tight formation flying around the libration point. However, only certain families of formation types can be controlled by solar radiation pressure since the direction of solar radiation pressure is restricted to a certain range. Two types of feasible formations using solar radiation pressure control are designed. The conditions of feasible formations are given analytically. Simulations are presented for each case, and the results show that the formations are well controlled by solar radiation pressure.

Lunar landing trajectory design based on invariant manifold

The low-energy lunar landing trajectory design using the invariant manifolds of restricted three-body problem is studied. Considering angle between the ecliptic plane and lunar orbit plane, the four-body problem of sun-earth-moon-spacecraft is divided into two three-body problems, the sun-earth-spacecraft in the ecliptic plane and the earth-moon-spacecraft in the lunar orbit plane. Using the orbit maneuver at the place where the two planes and the invariant manifolds intersect, a general method to design low energy lunar landing trajectory is given. It is found that this method can save the energy about 20% compared to the traditional Hohmann transfer trajectory. The mechanism that the method can save energy is investigated in the point of view of energy and the expression of the amount of energy saved is given. In addition, some rules of selecting parameters with respect to orbit design are provided. The method of energy analysis in the paper can be extended to energy analysis in deep space orbit design.

Fast low-energy halo-to-halo transfers between Sun–planet systems

In this paper, the problem of fast low-energy halo-to-halo transfers between Sun-planet systems is discussed under ephemeris constraints. According to the structure of an invariant man- ifold, employing an invariant manifold and planetary gravity assist to save fuel consumption is ana- lyzed from the view of orbital energy. Then, a pseudo-manifold is introduced to replace the invariant manifold in such a way that more transfer opportunities are allowed. Fast escape and cap- ture can be achieved along the pseudo-manifold. Furthermore, a global searching method that is based on patched-models is proposed to find an appropriate transfer trajectory. In this searching method, the trajectory is divided into several segments that can be designed under simple dynamical models, and an analytical algorithm is developed for connecting the segments. Earth-Mars and Earth Venus halo-to-halo transfers are designed to demonstrate the proposed approach. Numerical results show that the transfers that combine the pseudo-manifolds and planetary gravity assist can offer significant fuel consumption and flight time savings over traditional transfer schemes.

Leveraging quasi-periodic orbits for trajectory design in cislunar space

Incorporating quasi-periodic orbits into the preliminary design process offers a wide range of options to meet mission constraints and address the challenges in a complex trade space.In this investigation,linear stability and quasi-periodic orbit family continuation schemes are examined to meet various types of constraints.Applications in eclipse avoidance and transfer design are examined by leveraging quasi-periodic orbits and their associated hyperbolic manifolds in the lunar region.Solutions are transitioned to an ephemeris model to validate that geometries are maintained in higher-fidelity models.When the natural dynamical structures associated with quasi-periodic orbits are leveraged,novel trajectory solutions can emerge.

Stretching directions in cislunar space:Applications for departures and transfer design

Stable or nearly stable orbits do not generally possess well-distinguished manifold structures that assist in designing trajectories for departing from or arriving onto a periodic orbit.For some potential missions,the orbits of interest are selected as nearly stable to reduce the possibility of rapid departure.However,the linearly stable nature of these orbits is also a drawback for their timely insertion into or departure from the orbit.Stable or nearly stable near rectilinear halo orbits(NRHOs),distant retrograde orbits(DROs),and lunar orbits offer potential long-horizon trajectories for exploration missions and demand eficient operations.The current investigation focuses on leveraging stretching directions as a tool for departure and trajectory design applications.The magnitude of the state variations along the maximum stretching direction is expected to grow rapidly and,therefore,offers information for efficient departure from the orbit.Similarly,maximum stretching in reverse time enables arrival with a minimal maneuver magnitude.