Rendez-vous in lissajous orbits using the effective phase plane
- Paper number
IAC-06-C1.8.03
- Author
Ms. Elisabet Canalias, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Josep J. Masdemont, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain
- Year
2006
- Abstract
As it is well known, the so-called libration points of the Sun-Earth system (L 1 and L 2), are considered a suitable location for various types of missions. Among the reasons we can cite their thermal stability, low radiation levels and almost constant geometry with respect to the Sun. In addition, there is a rich structure of orbits and hyperbolic manifolds around the aforementioned points, which provides low cost channels to approach and leave them, or travel from one orbit to another.
Traditionally, Halo orbits have been used around L 1 (ISEE-3, SOHO…) and L 2. However, other motions can be found near these points, which present some advantages over halos. Lissajous-type orbits are quasi-periodic motions on invariant tori surrounding the collinear libration points. They are a combination of two oscillations, which means that they are associatedto two frequencies and two amplitudes. An adequate choice of the amplitudes can avoid long excursions of the spacecraft in any coordinate. In addition, good eclipse avoidance strategies can be applied toLissajous-type motions. As a result, Lissajous orbits are an advisable option to be taken into account for mission design near libration points.
Furthermore, it has been suggested that the collinear libration points could be the perfect location for space exploration missions involving more than one satellite, such as TPF or GAIA. In addition to the problems that inherently arise from the orbit maintenance of a formation of satellites (such as preserving the relative geometry of the group), launch and deployment aspects also have to be studied: usually, a single launch is not enough for the whole set of satellites. Therefore, the problem of the spatial rendez-vous becomes of the utmost importance. An efficient and accurate way has to be found to make several satellites meet, when some of them come from different transfer trajectories at different times.
In this work, a method for planning the rendez-vous of two space probes on Lissajous orbits is presented. The effective phase plane (EPP), introduced by the authors in a previous work, has been used. In particular, this method allows for the design of maneuvers to make the satellites meet when they are inserted in the same orbit but at different times (i.e. equal amplitudes and different phases on the Lissajous), as well as when they are inserted in Lissajous of similar (but not equal) amplitudes.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-C1.8.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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