Theory and computation of optimal low- and medium-thrust transfers
Abstract
This report describes the current state of development of methods for calculating optimal orbital transfers with large numbers of burns. Reported on first is the homotopy-motivated and so-called direction correction method. So far this method has been partially tested with one solver; the final step has yet to be implemented. Second is the patched transfer method. This method is rooted in some simplifying approximations made on the original optimal control problem. The transfer is broken up into single-burn segments, each single-burn solved as a predictor step and the whole problem then solved with a corrector step.
- Publication:
-
Semiannual Status Report
- Pub Date:
- July 1994
- Bibcode:
- 1994git..reptR....C
- Keywords:
-
- Electric Propulsion;
- Optimal Control;
- Orbital Maneuvers;
- Predictor-Corrector Methods;
- Transfer Orbits;
- Hamiltonian Functions;
- Lagrange Multipliers;
- Orbital Mechanics;
- Astrodynamics