A Rapid Target-Search Technique for KBO Exploration Trajectories

Conference paper (2021)

Authors

M. Benayas Penas Catholic University of America
Kyle M. Hughes NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Bruno V. Sarli Heliospace Corporation
Donald H. Ellison NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
K.J. Cowan Astrodynamics & Space Missions - Aerospace Engineering
Research Group
Astrodynamics & Space Missions (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 M. Benayas Penas, Kyle M. Hughes, Bruno V. Sarli, Donald H. Ellison, K.J. Cowan
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Space Engineering

Research Group

Astrodynamics & Space Missions

Abstract

A rapid, grid-based, target-search algorithm is presented to find candidate se-quences of small-body encounters for mission design. The algorithm is especially relevant for cases with large combinatorial spaces. In this paper, the al-gorithm is used to identify candidate flyby sequences of multiple Kuiper-Belt Ob-jects (KBOs). Before reaching the first KBO in the sequence, the trajectories in this paper first use gravity assists at one or more of the giant planets to pump-uptheir orbital energy—reducing launch C3. The target-search algorithm consists offour sequential steps: (1) parameter definition, (2) fine-tuned Lambert-based gridsearch of ballistic trajectories visiting one KBO, (3) rapid, ∆V-based proximitysearch for additional KBOs using the state transition matrices (STMs), and (4) tra-jectory optimization of the most promising KBO sequences using the EvolutionaryMission Trajectory Generator (EMTG). The paper also defines an empirical-basedprocess to characterize the maximum step size for the target arrival dates in theLambert grid search. Lastly, a candidate mission to two KBOs is presented. Theresults indicate that the ∆V computed from the STM propagations is not repre-sentative of the final ∆V computed in EMTG; however, it does serve as a useful‘reachability’ metric to identify nearby KBOs.

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