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Applications of optimization techniques to spacecraft fuel usage minimization in deep space navigation. (English) Zbl 0834.00007

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
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