Optimal orbits for a recycling station supporting in-orbit recycling

Laino, Maria Anna and Vasile, Massimiliano (2023) Optimal orbits for a recycling station supporting in-orbit recycling. In: 2023 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2023-08-13 - 2023-08-17, Big Sky Resort.

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Abstract

This paper proposes a method to find the location of optimal orbits for a recycling station. The goal is to find the orbital elements of an orbit that can be reached from the regions of interest, for example where components of non-active spacecrafts are located. The idea is to look at areas in the orbital parameter space that are reached by propagating trajectories from the selected regions. Varying all initial parameters, sets of possible orbits are obtained. The associated manoeuvre cost is computed and compared to the classical direct transfers. The long-term evolution of the obtained orbits is studied to assess if they remain inside the reachable set. The orbits that minimise the manoeuvre cost are selected.

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