# A New Shape-based Multiple-impulse Strategy for Coplanar Orbital Maneuvers

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a shape-based geometric method for designing multi-impulse orbital transfer trajectories that reduces computational effort and energy use, unifying classic transfer strategies within a new framework.

## Contribution

The paper presents a novel shape-based geometric method (SBGM) for coplanar orbital maneuvers, simplifying trajectory design and improving efficiency over traditional methods.

## Key findings

- SBGM reduces the number of design variables.
- SBGM demonstrates lower energy requirements.
- SBGM shows superior computational efficiency.

## Abstract

A new shape-based geometric method (SBGM) is proposed for generation of multi-impulse transfer trajectories between arbitrary coplanar oblique orbits via a heuristic algorithm. The key advantage of the proposed SBGM includes a significant reduction in the number of design variables for an N-impulse orbital maneuver leading to a lower computational effort and energy requirement. The SBGM generates a smooth transfer trajectory by joining a number of confocal elliptic arcs such that the intersections share common tangent directions. It is proven that the well-known classic Hohmann transfer and its bi-elliptic counterpart between circular orbits are special cases of the proposed SBGM. The performance and efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated via computer simulations whose results are compared with those of optimal Lambert maneuver and traditional methods. The results demonstrate a good compatibility and superiority of the proposed SBGM in terms of required energy effort and computational efficiency.