Jupiter system exploration trajectory design: Summary of the winning solution at CTOC10

Abstract

This paper presents the methods and results submitted by the winning team from Harbin Institute of Technology of the 10th China Trajectory Optimization Competition (CTOC10). The problem posed by CTOC10 requires exploring the Jupiter system using a combined spacecraft. The exploration mission consists of the detection of Jupiter’s magnetic field and an exploration of the Galilean moons. The mission is completed through three steps: problem analysis, orbital design process, and data processing. The orbital design process is mainly divided into four parts, namely, repeating ground-track orbit design, gravity-assisted orbit design, initial orbit parameter selection, and local optimization adjustment. The designed orbit is then evaluated using a heuristic optimization algorithm applied during the data processing. Finally, six full-coverage observations of Jupiter’s magnetic field are realized under the constraints of fuel and time. The final index of the submitted result is 357.8067.