A cislunar in-orbit infrastructure based on p:q resonant cycler orbits

Abstract

This research systematically presents the feasibility of allocating reusable cargoes in a quasi-periodic p:q resonant cycler orbit to construct a cislunar in-orbit infrastructure. First, p:q resonant cycler orbits are generated by resonance conditions in the context of a planar circular restricted three-body problem through differential correction and then are numerically refined using a multiple shooting method in the bi-circular model. The trajectories from/to the 167 km Earth and 100 km Moon parking orbits are constructed via modified Lambert transfers. Furthermore, aiming at a specific 2:1 resonant cycler orbit, the launch window and rendezvous window from/to the Earth and the Moon are obtained and analysed numerically. Finally, a new concept, i.e., a cislunar in-orbit infrastructure for supply and data transmission, rescue missions and spacecraft maintenance, is proposed, and its feasibility and reusability are verified. In this transportation system, several cargoes are evenly allocated in this quasi-periodic orbit. Once switched from quiescent mode to operational mode, they depart from the 2:1 cycler orbit, rendezvous with the crew vehicle in the 167 km Earth or the 100 km Moon parking orbit, and return to the cycler orbit after the mission. The feasibility of this architecture is demonstrated based on the total fuel consumption and the corresponding time of flight.