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Design and implementation of Chinese libration point missions

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Abstract

Libration points are vital for lunar and deep space explorations because of their unique positions and dynamics. This paper first traces the development of relevant missions since ISEE-3 and then presents the details of the trajectory design and implementation of four Chinese libration point missions in the lunar exploration project: the two Sun-Earth libration point missions by CHANG’E-2 and CHANG’E-5 and the two lunar libration point missions accomplished by CHANG’E-5T1 and Queqiao. The orbit technologies for these libration point missions are also elaborated on regarding trajectory design, maneuvering, and tracking, as well as orbit determination. This paper is expected to provide a reference for future cislunar and deep space exploration.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11303001, 11773004, 61573049) and Major Special Project of the National Lunar Exploration Program of China. The authors would like to especially acknowledge the contributions of Prof. Yang GAO, Prof. Xiaojun ZHANG, and the anonymous reviewers for helping to improve this manuscript to its final form. The authors would also like to thank the technicians who participated in the design and implementation of the missions for beneficial inspiration from discussions with them.

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  1. Beijing Aerospace Control Center, Beijing, 100094, China

    Lei Liu & Yong Liu

  2. Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center, Beijing, 100186, China

    Wei-Ren Wu

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  1. Lei Liu
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Correspondence to Lei Liu.

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Lei LIU and Wei-Ren WU have the same contribution to this work.

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Liu, L., Wu, WR. & Liu, Y. Design and implementation of Chinese libration point missions. Sci. China Inf. Sci. 66, 191201 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-022-3716-9

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