A new method is described for the determination of optimal spacecraft trajectories in an inverse-square field using finite, fixed thrust. The method employs a recently developed optimization technique which uses a piecewise polynomial representation for the state and controls, and collocation, thus converting the optimal control problem into a nonlinear programming problem, which is solved numerically. This technique has been modified to provide efficient handling of those portions of the trajectory which can be determined analytically, i.e., the coast arcs. Among the problems that have been solved using this method are optimal rendezvous and transfer (including multirevolution cases) and optimal multiburn orbit insertion from hyperbolic approach.


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    Title :

    Optimal finite-thrust spacecraft trajectories using collocation and nonlinear programming


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Conference 1989 ; 1989 ; Stowe, VT, United States


    Publication date :

    1990-01-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :