A new shape-based multiple-impulse strategy for coplanar orbital maneuvers. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shakouri, Amir; Kiani, Maryam; Pourtakdoust, Seid H.
• Is Part Of: Acta astronautica. Volume 161(2019)
• Page Start: 200
• Page End: 208
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Orbital maneuver -- Impulsive transfer -- Shape-based geometric method -- Coplanar orbits; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Outer space -- Exploration -- Periodicals; Astronautics; Periodicals; 629.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.05.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-5765

Abstract

Abstract: A new shape-based geometric method (SBGM) is proposed for generation of multi-impulse transfer trajectories between arbitrary coplanar oblique orbits via a heuristic algorithm. The key advantage of the proposed SBGM includes a significant reduction in the number of design variables for an N-impulse orbital maneuver leading to a lower computational effort and energy requirement. The SBGM generates a smooth transfer trajectory by joining a number of confocal elliptic arcs such that the intersections share common tangent directions. It is proven that the well-known classic Hohmann transfer and its bi-elliptic counterpart between circular orbits are special cases of the proposed SBGM. The performance and efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated via computer simulations whose results are compared with those of optimal Lambert maneuver and traditional methods. The results demonstrate a good compatibility and superiority of the proposed SBGM in terms of required energy effort and computational efficiency. Highlights: A shape-based geometric method (SBGM) is proposed for impulsive orbital transfer. The SBGM is used for maneuvers between coplanar oblique elliptic orbits. The relationships between SBGM, Hohmann and bi-elliptic maneuvers are investigated. It is shown that how the proposed SBGM is computationally efficient. It is shown that how the optimal SBGM has considerable low costs.