Using Upgraded Versions Of Close Approach Maneuvers As Transportation Solutions For Deep Space Missions

TL;DR

This paper reviews advanced gravity-assisted maneuvers, including propulsion, atmospheric passes, and tethers, to enhance energy changes for deep space missions, enabling more ambitious exploration with optimized fuel use.

Contribution

It introduces and analyzes upgraded versions of close approach maneuvers, combining propulsion, atmospheric passes, and tethers to expand deep space mission capabilities.

Findings

Enhanced energy variation techniques for spacecraft.

Potential for new mission profiles with increased maneuver flexibility.

Improved fuel efficiency in deep space navigation.

Abstract

Gravity-Assisted maneuvers have been used as a technique to reduce fuel consumption in deep space missions for several decades now. It opened the doors of the exterior solar system. The literature shows those results, as well as new versions of this maneuver, which includes: the use of propulsion combined with the close approach, both high or low thrust; the passage by the atmosphere of a planet to help to change the trajectory of the spacecraft; the use of tethers to increase the changes in the velocity of the spacecraft. All those new versions have the goal of increasing the variations of energy given by the maneuver, making possible missions that would not be possible without this technique.