Optimal impulsive time-fixed transfers around the libration points of the restricted three-body problem

Abstract

A methodology is proposed to design optimal time-fixed impulsive transfers in the vicinity of the L2 libration point of the Earth-Moon system, taking the construction of a space station around the collinear libration points as the background. The approximate analytical expression of motions around the L2 point in the CRTBP is given, and the expression in the ERTBP is derived by linearizing the dynamical equations for the purpose of expanding the methodology from the CRTBP to the ERTBP. Thus, the approximate analytical solution of the transfer between two points is obtained by substituting the position vectors of the two points into the expression, which solves the Lambert problem in the three-body system. Furthermore, the transfer between different orbits is constructed by parameterization of the position vectors with the amplitudes and phases of the initial orbit and the final orbit. The transfers are optimized such that the total velocity increment required to implement the transfer exhibits a global minimum. The values of variables involved in the optimal transfers are determined by the unconstrained minimization of a function of one or nine variables using a multivariable search technique. To numerically ensure that the transfers are accurate and to eliminate the linearization bias, the differential correction and SQP method are employed. The optimality of the transfers is determined lastly by the primer vector theory. Simulations of point-to-point transfers, Lissajous-to-Lissajous transfers, halo-to-halo transfers and Lissajous-to-halo transfers are made. The results of this study indicate that the approximate analytical solutions, as well as the differential correction and SQP method, are valid in the design of the optimal transfers around the libration points of the restricted three-body problem.