Note: This post is adapted from my conference paper, which was presented at the 2022 AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference. You can read the full paper here.
Abstract
Low-thrust propulsion is an enabling factor for the next generation of deep space missions. Unfortunately, their limited thrust capabilities render long-duration thrusting arcs necessary. Any interruption to the thrust during a thrusting arc can have significant impacts or even cause the complete loss of a mission. Additionally, for long-duration trajectories, multiple missed thrust events not only occur but can be more likely than single missed thrust events. This investigation extends the virtual swam approach for designing missed thrust resilient trajectories to the multiple missed thrust event scenario. Not only does this method generate missed thrust resilient trajectories, but it also provides evidence that the terminal coast MTE mitigation approach is closer to an optimal method than previously known.
Key Takeaways
The full paper is online here, but here are, in my opinion, the most interesting aspects are
- Virtual swarm methods for mitigating missed thrust events have been extended to multiple missed thrust event trajectories.
- The terminal coast approach is closer to optimal in some scenarios than previously thought!
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