Optimal Trajectory Generation for Multiple Asteroid Rendezvous

Abstract

This thesis is focused on solving one component of the proposed problem in the Global Trajectory Optimization Competition released by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in late 2006. The goal is to find an optimal spacecraft trajectory to rendezvous with an asteroid in a group of asteroids. The analysis is conducted using a MATLAB application package for dynamic optimization called DIDO. In order to verify the selection results one-to-one transfers between Earth and several asteroids are conducted. The selection process is applied to this group of asteroids. When the initial results do not meet the expectations based on the one-to-one transfers a more thorough search for a global minimum is necessary. The gradual cost-constrained technique is used to progress from local minima toward the global minimum. The results are checked to satisfy the constraints as well as the necessary conditions for optimality. When the results are analyzed feasible one-to-one rendezvous trajectories are found however a sufficient selection process is lacking. There is a great deal of work remaining on this project including the continued development of an asteroid selection procedure.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA470418

Entities

People

  • David M. Koeppel

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cartesian Coordinates
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programming
  • Differential Equations
  • Earth Orbits
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Optimization
  • Orbital Elements
  • Orbits
  • Rendezvous
  • Rendezvous Trajectories
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Trajectories
  • Three Dimensional
  • Trajectories
  • United States Naval Academy

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers