Space Flight from Geostationary Orbit to the Earth Using Lunar Gravity Assist

Paper number

IAC-06-C1.8.04

Author

Prof. Viacheslav Ivashkin, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, RAS, Russia

Year

2006

Abstract

A problem of the spacecraft (SC) return from geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) to the Earth is analyzed. Two schemes of the flight are studied and compared. The first scheme is the usual one with one-impulse decreasing (at 1490 m/s) the velocity of the SC and “direct” flight to the Earth. The second one is reverse to the Earth-GEO “detour” flight [1]. It supposes increasing (at 1100 m/s) the SC velocity; after that the SC flies to the Moon to reach its vicinity near Moon’s node (ascending or descending) at the Earth equator to perform a special lunar gravity assist (LGA) and then to fly to the Earth atmosphere for destroying the SC or its delivering on the Earth surface. 

   A qualitative theoretical analysis compressing the Moon sphere of influence to a point as well as an “exact” numerical one in frame of the Earth-Moon-Sun-particle system are performed for the GEO-Earth flight with the LGA. Their results are presented. A set of “detour” GEO-Moon-Earth trajectories are constructed for some values of geocentric radius in perigee. Conditions for realization of this flight are found; characteristics of the gravitational manoeuvre are determined. It is proved, in particular, that this scheme can be performed with the SC fly-by near the Moon above its surface and the total flight time of about 10 days [2]. It is shown that from the energy point of view the “detour” scheme with the lunar gravity assist is better considerably than the “direct” one.

References

1. Ivashkin V.V., and Tupitsyn N.N. Use of the Moon’s Gravitational Field to Inject a Space Vehicle into a Stationary Earth-Satellite Orbit”. // Cosmic Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1971. P. 151-159.
2. Ivashkin V.V. Ary Sternfeld and Cosmonautics. // Moscow: Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, RAS. April 12, 2005. Preprint N 82. 32 p. 

Abstract document

IAC-06-C1.8.04.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-C1.8.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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