Capacity of Sun-driven Lunar Swingby Sequences and Their Application in Asteroid Retrieval

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of Sun-driven lunar swingby sequences to enhance asteroid retrieval missions, providing a new dynamic approach and a database for trajectory design that can encompass a significant portion of known asteroids.

Contribution

It introduces the capacity of Sun-driven lunar swingby sequences using the Swingby-Jacobi graph and develops a database for trajectory optimization in asteroid retrieval missions.

Findings

Capacity range encloses around 660 asteroids

Generated a database of Moon-to-Moon transfers including multi-revolution cases

Enabled multiple asteroid flyby, rendezvous, and retrieval mission options

Abstract

For deep-space mission design, the gravity of the Sun and the Moon can be first considered and utilized. Their gravity can provide the energy change for launching spacecraft and retrieving spacecraft as well as asteroids. Regarding an asteroid retrieval mission, it can lead to the mitigation of asteroid hazards and an easy exploration and exploitation of the asteroid. This paper discusses the application of the Sun-driven lunar swingby sequence for asteroid missions. Characterizing the capacity of this technique is not only interesting in terms of dynamic insights but also non-trivial for trajectory design. The capacity of a Sun-driven lunar swingby sequence is elucidated in this paper with the help of the "Swingby-Jacobi" graph. The capacity can be represented by a range of the Jacobi integral that encloses around 660 asteroids currently cataloged. To facilitate trajectory design, a database of Sun-perturbed Moon-to-Moon transfers, including multi-revolution cases is generated and employed. Massive trajectory options for spacecraft launch and asteroid capture can then be explored and optimized. Finally, a number of asteroid flyby, rendezvous, sample-return, and retrieval mission options enabled by the proposed technique are obtained.