Spacecraft optimization with combined chemical-electric propulsion
Abstract
A combined chemical and electric propulsion stages was used to solve a combined vehicle and mission optimization problem. The problem was solved by uncoupling the short-duration electric propulsion phases, thereby achieving a very efficient, robust approach. Various optimal vehicle-mission combinations were obtained for a range of transfer times from 16 to 500 days. Finally, a combined chemical-electric propulsion mission can provide an additional 15% payload capability compared to the corresponding all-chemical mission.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
- Pub Date:
- March 1995
- DOI:
- 10.2514/3.26623
- Bibcode:
- 1995JSpRo..32..378K
- Keywords:
-
- Chemical Propulsion;
- Electric Propulsion;
- Low Earth Orbits;
- Propulsion System Performance;
- Propulsive Efficiency;
- Spacecraft Propulsion;
- Spacecraft Trajectories;
- Interplanetary Flight;
- Lunar Orbits;
- Robustness (Mathematics);
- Systems Analysis;
- Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance