Optimal low-thrust limited-power transfers between orbits with small eccentricities

• Grant number: 13/25359-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering - Flight Dynamics
• Principal Investigator: Sandro da Silva Fernandes
• Grantee: João Victor Bateli Romão
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/21023-6 - Artificial satellite dynamics, AP.TEM

Abstract

The research has two main goals: analytical and numerical study of optimization problem of transfers between orbits with small eccentricities performed by low thrust and power limited (electric propulsion) systems in strong central gravitational field (heliocentric phase of interplanetary trajectories). The analytical study of optimal low thrust and power limited trajectories will be developed through the theory of canonical transformations and perturbation methods, and, the numerical study will be developed through the neighboring extremal trajectories method.