A computational approach to the powered Swing-By in the elliptic restricted problem

This work performs a computational investigation of the energy variations given by a powered Swing-By maneuver realized in an elliptical system. It extends previous works by giving the freedom to choose the location and the direction of the thrust vector, aspects that were not considered before in t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ferreira, Alessandra F. S. [UNESP], de Moraes, Rodolpho V. [UNESP], Prado, Antônio F. B. A., Winter, Othon C. [UNESP], Santos, Denilson P. S. [UNESP]
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/208500
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40430-021-02914-9
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/208500
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Astrodynamics
Close approach
Elliptical system
Energy variation
Orbital maneuvers
Descripción
Sumario:This work performs a computational investigation of the energy variations given by a powered Swing-By maneuver realized in an elliptical system. It extends previous works by giving the freedom to choose the location and the direction of the thrust vector, aspects that were not considered before in the literature. Those variations are obtained numerically as a function of the parameters related to the thrust (magnitude, direction and location of the application) and the orbital parameters of the primaries (eccentricity and true anomaly). The maneuver is realized around the smaller primary, and the energy variations are measured with respect to the main body of the system. The initial orbit of the space vehicle is defined by its periapsis distance, angle and approach velocity with respect to the smaller primary. The study is applied to a system composed of two primaries that are in elliptic orbits around the center of mass of the system. The eccentricity is varied as a free parameter, to measure its effects. The results show that the best maneuvers apply the thrust at a point inside the sphere of influence of the secondary body, but not in the periapsis of the orbit. The best direction of the thrust is not aligned with the motion of the space vehicle. The techniques studied here are applied in situations where it is desired to increase the energy of the space vehicle. Empirical equations are obtained for the energy variations, based on the simulations made in the present paper. The numerical approach makes the results more accurate and not limited to particular regions of the eccentricity.