Orbital maneuvers to reach and explore a triple asteroid

Author(s)

Formiga, Jorge Kennety S. ; dos Santos, Denilson P. S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COMPUTATIONAL & APPLIED MATHEMATICS; v. 35, n. 3, p. 13-pg., 2016-10-01.

Abstract

The objective of the present paper is to study orbital maneuvers to perform a mission to a triple asteroid. First, a genetic algorithm is used to find multi-impulsive maneuvers to go from the Earth to the asteroid, with minimum fuel consumption. After that, swing-by maneuvers with the two smaller bodies of the triple system are simulated and mapped to show the possible gains of energy that can be accomplished with the use of this technique. This study is made using the "patched conics approximation" and the "restricted three-body problem", to determine the accuracy of the approximated model. The system of asteroids 2001SN is used as an example for the calculations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/06688-7 - Dynamics of artificial satellites
• Grantee: Antônio Fernando Bertachini de Almeida Prado
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/21023-6 - Artificial satellite dynamics
• Grantee: Rodolpho Vilhena de Moraes
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/08171-3 - Orbital dynamics of minor bodies
• Grantee: Othon Cabo Winter
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/13101-4 - Study of orbital maneuvers to escape from collisions for a spacecraft and a group of particles
• Grantee: Vivian Martins Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/16517-7 - Optimal space trajectories using solar electric propulsion (Sep) and gravity assisted maneuver, with genetic algorithm
• Grantee: Denilson Paulo Souza dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral