Wang, Tseng-Chan; Sunseri, Richard F.; Stanford, Richard H.; Gray, Donald L.; Breckheimer, Peter J. Applications of optimization techniques to spacecraft fuel usage minimization in deep space navigation. (English) Zbl 0834.00007 Math. Eng. Ind. 1, No. 2, 97-122 (1987). Summary: Mathematical analysis of the minimization of spacecraft fuel usage for both impulsive and finite motor burns is presented. A high precision integrated trajectory search program (SEPV) and several optimization software libraries are used to solve minimum fuel usage problems. The SEPV program has the capacity to vary either the initial spacecraft state or the finite burn parameters to acquire a specified set of target values. Several test examples for the Voyager 2 Uranus Encounter and the Galileo Jupiter Orbiter are presented to show that spacecraft fuel consumption can be minimized in targeting maneuver strategies. The fuel savings achieved by the optimum solution can be significant. MSC: 00A69 General applied mathematics 65K05 Numerical mathematical programming methods 65Y99 Computer aspects of numerical algorithms Keywords:minimization of spacecraft fuel usage; impulsive and finite motor burns; high precision integrated trajectory search program; optimization software libraries; SEPV program; Voyager 2 Uranus Encounter; Galileo Jupiter Orbiter; maneuver strategies PDFBibTeX XMLCite \textit{T.-C. Wang} et al., Math. Eng. Ind. 1, No. 2, 97--122 (1987; Zbl 0834.00007)