The reliability of low-thrust trajectories between science orbits around large asteroids must be evaluated subject to the unavoidable uncertainties of orbit determination, asteroid physical parameters, momentum de-saturation maneuvers, and transfer maneuver execution error. This paper presents a computationally inexpensive way to extend the concept or orbital stability to trajectories undergoing continuously powered low-thrust flight. Trajectories that are stable using this measure are shown to be stable under the combined uncertainties expected during operations. The measure is general and relatively simple to implement. The method was applied to maneuvers planed around the asteroid Vesta in support of NASA's Dawn Discovery mission.
The Stability of Powered Flight around Asteroids with Application to Vesta
21st AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting ; 2011 ; New Orleans, LA, United States
2011-02-14
Conference paper
No indication
English
The Stability of Powered Flight Around Asteroids With Application to Vesta (AAS 11-186)
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