Flight Trajectory and Control System of SELenological and Engineering Explorer "KAGUYA" mission to the Moon

Abstract

KAGUYA (SELENE), launched on September 14, 2007, is Japan’s first full-scale lunar explorer. The primary objectives of KAGUYA are the acquisition of scientific data related to the lunar origin and evolution and the development of technologies for future lunar exploration. A major challenge for the KAGUYA mission is reliable and robust lunar orbit insertion under various constraints. After intensive discussions and tradeoff studies, we ultimately selected a phasing lunar transfer orbit with two loops as the KAGUYA lunar transfer orbit. We developed a method for parameterized rocket trajectory by the celestial declination of the Moon to inject KAGUYA into the lunar transfer orbit and designed KAGUYA’s phasing lunar transfer orbit and orbital maneuver plan to be robust against anomalies. This paper presents the KAGUYA’s trajectory design and orbital maneuver plan, describes KAGUYA’s orbital and attitude control system, and explains KAGUYA’s flight results during lunar transfer orbit and lunar orbit injection.