Multi-impulse minimal energy orbit transfer in interplanetary flight

In the present analysis, the minimum-fuel transfer problem has been generalized. More freedom is given to minimize the fuel by allowing three impulses. This multiimpulse orbit-transfer problem is formulated and purely analytically solved for typical interplanetary trajectories; it is found that for a small inclination between the departure and arrival planets, the three-impulse problem can be reduced to a two-impulse one.