Transfer Design Exploiting Resonant Orbits and Manifolds in the Saturn–Titan System

Abstract

The application of dynamical systems techniques to trajectory design has demonstrated that employing invariant manifolds and resonant flybys expands the trajectory options and potentially reduces the requirements. Low-cost transfer trajectories from two- and three-dimensional resonant orbits are explored in the Saturn–Titan system via Poincaré mapping techniques and the application of dynamical systems theory. Natural maneuver-free transfers between resonant orbits and libration point orbits are constructed with the aid of a trajectory design tool that blends manifold arcs associated with unstable resonant orbits. Homoclinic-type resonant connections exist in two and three dimensions and are computed employing the transfer design tool. As an application of resonant transitions to preliminary mission design, the accessibility of Hyperion from orbits that are resonant with Titan is examined, and two transfer trajectories to the orbit of Hyperion are constructed by exploiting the invariant manifolds associated with unstable resonant orbits. A local optimization algorithm is employed to further decrease the cost of insertion and to illustrate the relationship between the local minimum and the invariant manifolds.