Optimal Low-Thrust Orbit Transfers Made Easy: A Direct Approach

DOI10.2514/1.A34949arXiv2101.08160MaRDI QIDQ6358673FDOQ6358673

Authors: Mirko Leomanni, Gianni Bianchini, Andrea Garulli, Renato Quartullo 

Publication date: 20 January 2021

Abstract: The optimization of low-thrust, multi-revolution orbit transfer trajectories is often regarded as a difficult problem in modern astrodynamics. In this paper, a flexible and computationally efficient approach is presented for the optimization of low-thrust orbit transfers under eclipse constraints. The proposed approach leverages a new dynamic model of the orbital motion and a Lyapunov-based initial guess generation scheme that is very easy to tune. A multi-objective, single-phase formulation of the optimal control problem is devised, which provides a convenient way to trade off fuel consumption and time of flight. A distinctive feature of such a formulation is that it requires no prior information about the structure of the optimal solution. Simulation results for two benchmark orbit transfer scenarios indicate that minimum-time, minimum-fuel and mixed time/fuel-optimal instances of the control problem can be readily solved via direct collocation, while incurring a significantly lower computational demand with respect to existing techniques.

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