# Near-optimal capture in the planar circular restricted Pluto-Charon system

## TL;DR

This paper investigates near-optimal capture points around Charon in the Pluto-Charon system using numerical methods within the PCRTBP framework, aiming to aid future space mission planning.

## Contribution

It introduces a combined numerical approach to identify optimal capture points and orbits in the Pluto-Charon system, extending previous work on capture strategies.

## Key findings

- Identified optimal capture points around Charon.
- Classified initial conditions into bounded, escaping, and collisional.
- Compared capture dynamics between Pluto-Charon and Earth-Moon systems.

## Abstract

In this paper, the near-optimal capture problem is numerically investigated to locate the optimal capture points around Charon using the Pluto-Charon planar circular restricted three-body problem (PCRTBP). Capture orbits are divided into the pre- and post-maneuver portions. In the pre-maneuver portion, the gravitational capture conditions are discussed by backward numerical integration. In the post-maneuver portion, the smaller alignment index (SALI) is applied to numerically investigate the orbital characters of long-term capture orbits around Charon. The initial conditions corresponding to three types of motion: (i) bounded (regular or chaotic), (ii) escaping and (iii) collisional are classified and studied. Combining results of the pre- and post-maneuver portions, the near-optimal capture method is presented to find optimal capture points by overlay figures, and then the corresponding capture orbits are constructed in the PCRTBP. The different results between the Pluto-Charon system and the Earth-Moon system are compared and analyzed. Our results obtained in this paper, including the optimal capture points and the corresponding capture orbits, could be applied in future space mission design.