Interplanetary natural routes via Moon and Lagrangian points L1 and L2
- Paper number
IAC-08.A3.2.INT12
- Author
Dr. Cristiano Fiorilo de Melo, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Brazil
- Coauthor
Prof. Elbert E.N. Macau, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Brazil
- Coauthor
Dr. Othon Winter, UNESP, Brazil
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Swing-by techniques are extensively used in interplanetary missions to minimize fuel consumption and to raise payloads of spaceships. The effectiveness of this type of maneuver has been proven since the beginning of space exploration. According to this premise, we have explored the existence of a natural and direct link between terrestrial low-altitude orbits and the lunar sphere of influence, to obtain low-energy interplanetary trajectories through a swing-by with the Moon. The existence of this link is related to a family of retrograde periodic orbits around the Lagrangian equilibrium point L1 predicted for the circular, planar, restricted three-body Earth-Moon-particle problem. The trajectories in this link are sensitive to small disturbances. This enables them to be conveniently diverted starting from their apogee search prior of the first passage through lunar sphere of influence, reducing so the cost of the swing-by maneuver. With this deviation, the paths go between the Moon and L2, and then between L1 and the Moon. This maneuver allows a gain in energy sufficient for the trajectory to escape from the Earth-Moon System and to stabilize in a heliocentric orbit between the Earth and Venus or between the Earth and Mars. On the other hand, still within the terrestrial sphere of influence, and taking advantage of the sensitivity of the trajectories, it is possible to design other swing-by maneuvers with the Earth and the Moon. This enables us to increase the energy of the trajectory enough for it to reach the orbits of other planets. Our results have shown that the use of link trajectories and of multiple swing-bys allow us to achieve savings greater than 5% in the ΔVTotal necessary for interplanetary transfer, without requiring a much greater transfer time than conventional transfers.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A3.2.INT12.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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