Manoeuvring considerations for quasi-periodic trajectories

Duering, Marcel and Vasile, Massimiliano and Landgraf, Markus (2013) Manoeuvring considerations for quasi-periodic trajectories. In: 64th International Astronautical Congress 2013, 2013-09-23 - 2013-09-27.

[thumbnail of Duering-Vasile-Landgraf-IAC-2013-manoeuvring-considerations-for-quasi-periodic-trajectories]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Duering_Vasile_Landgraf_IAC_2013_manoeuvring_considerations_for_quasi_periodic_trajectories.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
Download (2MB)| Preview

Abstract

The lunar vicinity attracts attention in particular for long-duration human exploration enabling complex missions to multiple destinations. A variety of orbits exist near the Lagrangian points L1 and L2 that can serve as nominal orbit for such mission scenarios. One type so-called quasi-periodic orbits are studied in this paper for this purpose. Those orbits are associated with frequencies, phases, and amplitudes. The existence and main characteristics of quasi-periodic orbits around the far-side Lagrangian point in the Earth-Moon system are studied. Stability directions and corresponding stable and unstable manifold branches are determined and compared. A parametric set in angular phase space is introduced for the orbits and their hyperbolic invariant manifolds. Solutions are identified to transfer spacecraft between quasi-periodic orbits and to compensate phase differences between spacecraft bringing together the parametric orbit and manifold representation. The proposed technique utilise the stable manifold allowing for single manoeuvre transfers. The transfers are classified and characterised. Two transfer scenarios within the orbit families are discussed with respect to future missions that have to cope with regular vehicle traffic, rendezvous and docking activities. In the first case, two spacecraft are separated from a halo orbit and distributed on a quasi-periodic orbit. In the second case, a given phase difference between two spacecraft is compensated and a target orbit is defined in which the spacecraft finally rendezvous. Parameter studies show the existence of those transfers and their strong dependence on the time when the manoeuvre is performed.

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)