Lunar landing trajectory design based on invariant manifold

Abstract

The low-energy lunar landing trajectory design using the invariant manifolds of restricted three-body problem is studied. Considering angle between the ecliptic plane and lunar orbit plane, the four-body problem of sun-earth-moon-spacecraft is divided into two three-body problems, the sun-earth-spacecraft in the ecliptic plane and the earth-moon-spacecraft in the lunar orbit plane. Using the orbit maneuver at the place where the two planes and the invariant manifolds intersect, a general method to design low energy lunar landing trajectory is given. It is found that this method can save the energy about 20% compared to the traditional Hohmann transfer trajectory. The mechanism that the method can save energy is investigated in the point of view of energy and the expression of the amount of energy saved is given. In addition, some rules of selecting parameters with respect to orbit design are provided. The method of energy analysis in the paper can be extended to energy analysis in deep space orbit design.