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Fast 2-impulse non-Keplerian orbit transfer using the Theory of Functional Connections

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Abstract

This study applies a new approach, the Theory of Functional Connections (TFC), to solve the two-point boundary-value problem (TPBVP) in non-Keplerian orbit transfer. The perturbations considered are drag, solar radiation pressure, higher-order gravitational potential harmonic terms, and multiple bodies. The proposed approach is applied to Earth-to-Moon transfers and obtains exact boundary condition satisfaction and with very fast convergence. Thanks to this highly efficient approach, perturbed pork-chop plots of Earth-to-Moon transfers are generated, and individual analyses on the transfers’ parameters are easily done at low computational costs. The minimum fuel analysis is provided in terms of the time of flight, thrust application points, and relative geometry of the Moon and Sun. The transfer costs obtained are in agreement with the literature’s best solutions and in some cases are even slightly better.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by FAPESP - São Paulo Research Foundation through grants 2019/18480-5, 2018/07377-6 and 2016/24561-0 and by the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, Leake [NSTRF 2019] Grant #: 80NSSC19K1152 and Johnston [NSTRF 2019] Grant #: 80NSSC19K1149.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INPE-National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

    Allan K. de Almeida Junior

  2. Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Allan K. de Almeida Junior, Hunter Johnston, Carl Leake & Daniele Mortari

Authors
  1. Allan K. de Almeida Junior
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  2. Hunter Johnston
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  3. Carl Leake
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Correspondence to Allan K. de Almeida Junior.

Additional information

A previous version was presented as: De Almeida Junior, A.K., Johnston, H., Leake, C., and Mortari, D. “Evaluation of transfer costs in the Earth/Moon system using the Theory of Functional Connections,” AAS 20-596, Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, August 9-12, Lake Tahoe, CA.

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de Almeida Junior, A.K., Johnston, H., Leake, C. et al. Fast 2-impulse non-Keplerian orbit transfer using the Theory of Functional Connections. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 136, 223 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01151-2

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