Statistical Analysis of Optimal Stationkeeping Location and Coast Duration Using Stretching Directions

• Published in: The Journal of the astronautical sciences 2024-01, Vol.71 (1), Article 7
• Main Authors: Rivera Lopez, Karina, Holzinger, Marcus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Engineering; Mathematical Applications in the Physical Sciences; Original Article; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
• ISSN: 2195-0571; 2195-0571
• DOI: 10.1007/s40295-023-00427-2

The methodologies for orbit maintenance continue to develop as the number of cislunar space missions grows. Many of the studies on stationkeeping within cislunar space assume a fixed number of evenly spaced correction maneuvers or plan maneuvers based on the control methodology and mission constraints. From these studies, the maneuver location and coast duration have been identified as essential design parameters that affect the cost of fuel consumption and aid in understanding when and where maneuvers should be placed. The Cauchy–Green tensor allows the analysis of combinations of these design parameters in the form of stability maps. This manuscript derives a modified Cauchy–Green tensor for one and two impulsive stationkeeping maneuvers. The stability maps obtained from the modified Cauchy–Green tensors are used to determine combinations of maneuver location and coast duration that minimize fuel consumption and the final position and velocity errors. In addition, a guidance policy, dependent on uncertainties and an initial state perturbation, is derived from the two-impulse stationkeeping analysis to determine whether performing a corrective maneuver is more beneficial to the overall system’s performance. The solutions obtained from this analysis yield a tool for mission design that is dependent mainly on the problem dynamics, navigation, and thrust uncertainties.