Survey on advances in orbital dynamics and control for libration point orbits

Abstract

Libration point orbits (LPOs) have drawn a lot of interest because of their great significance in deep space exploration. This paper summarizes the past developments and then presents the current state-of-art of LPOs including the dynamical structure of phase space, the transfer trajectories and homoclinic/heterclinic connections of LPOs, the station-keeping strategies, and some constellation deployments employing LPOs. Subsequently addressed are the applications of the LPO theory into the fields of lunar transfers, solar sail equilibria and formation flying. Finally, future research directions on LPOs are described from the aspects of the existence proof of Halo orbits, orbital design for the potential missions motivated by LPOs, and so on.