Method for Rapid Interplanetary Trajectory Analysis using ΔV Maps with Flyby Options
Author(s)
Ishimatsu, Takuto; Hoffman, Jeffrey A.; de Weck, Olivier L.
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This paper develops a convenient tool which is capable of calculating ballistic interplanetary trajectories with planetary flyby options to create exhaustive V contour plots for both direct trajectories without flybys and flyby trajectories in a single chart. The contours of V for a range of departure dates (x-axis) and times of flight (y-axis) serve as a “visual calendar” of launch windows, which are useful for the creation of a long-term transportation schedule for mission planning purposes. For planetary flybys, a simple powered flyby manoeuvre with a reasonably small velocity impulse at periapsis is allowed to expand the flyby mission windows. The procedure of creating a V contour plot for direct trajectories is a straightforward full- factorial computation with two input variables of departure and arrival dates solving Lambert's problem for each combination. For flyby trajectories, a “pseudo full-factorial” computation is conducted by decomposing the problem into two separate full- factorial computations. Mars missions including Venus flyby opportunities are used to illustrate the application of this model for the 2020-2040 time frame. The “competitiveness” of launch windows is defined and determined for each launch opportunity.
Date issued
2012-02Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Data, Systems, and Society; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and AstronauticsJournal
Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
Publisher
British Interplanetary Society
Citation
Ishimatsu, Takuto, Jeffrey Hoffman, and Olivier de Weck. "Method for Rapid Interplanetary Trajectory Analysis using ΔV Maps with Flyby Options." Journal of the British Interplanetary Society 64 (2011), 204-213.
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISSN
0007-084X