Optimised GTO-GEO transfer using low-thrust propulsion

Di Carlo, Marilena and Vasile, Massimiliano and Kemble, Stephen (2017) Optimised GTO-GEO transfer using low-thrust propulsion. In: 31st International Symposium on Space Technology and Science (ISTS), 2017-06-03 - 2017-06-09.

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Abstract

This paper proposes a global optimisation of the low-thrust transfers from GTO to GEO incorporating different types of perturbation. The trajectory transcription method makes use of an analytical solution of the perturbed Keplerian motion together with a simple direct collocation of the thrust arcs. The paper will show that low-thrust GTO to GEO transfers exhibit a number of local minima with a small but not negligible difference. The paper presents different strategies to explore the set of local minima and shows a number of locally optimal solutions.