A Numerical Study of Fuel-Optimal Low-Earth-Orbit Maintenance
Abstract
This thesis studies the fuel optimal periodic reboost profile required to maintain a spacecraft experiencing drag in low-earth-orbit (LEO). Recent advances in computational optimal control theory are employed, along with a Legendre-Gauss-Lobatto Pseudospectral collocation code developed at the Naval Postgraduate School, to solve the problem. Solutions obtained by this method are compared against a previous study. Key issues were checking the optimality of the solutions by way of the necessary conditions and the behavior of the solution to changes in the thruster size. The results confirmed Jensen's findings of propellant savings of one to five percent when compared against a middle altitude Forced Keplerian Trajectory (FKT). Larger savings are predicted if compared against a finite-burn Hohmann transfer with drag. The costates estimates compared favorably against necessary conditions of Pontryagin's Minimum Principle. Analysis of the switching flinction yielded periods of thrust-modulated arcs. The optimal thrust profile appears to be a thrust-modulated burn to raise the orbit followed by an orbital decay and a terminating thrust-modulated arc. For a sufficiently low thrust-control authority, the switching structure includes a maximum thrust arc. Indirect optimization techniques to confirm these findings were unsuccessful.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA386917
Entities
People
- Lawrence E. Halbach
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School