On-Manifold Low-Thrust Rephasing of Quasi-Periodic Orbits

TL;DR

This paper introduces a bi-level optimal control framework for low-thrust re-phasing on quasi-periodic orbits, ensuring safety by maintaining proximity to invariant tori in multi-body environments.

Contribution

It presents a novel control approach that minimizes fictitious control inputs to generate feasible trajectories on the torus surface, including modifications for forced dynamical systems.

Findings

Compared fuel consumption and torus error between methods

Demonstrated framework on circular and elliptical three-body problems

Showed effectiveness of minimum time recovery trajectories

Abstract

A bi-level optimal control framework is introduced to solve the low-thrust re-phasing problem on quasi-periodic invariant tori in multi-body environments where deviations away from the torus during maneuver are considered unsafe or irresponsible. It is shown for a large class of mechanical systems that conformity to the torus manifold during periods of non-zero control input is infeasible. The most feasible trajectories on the torus surface are generated through the minimization of fictitious control input in the torus space using phase space control variables mapped via the torus function. These reference trajectories are then transitioned to the phase space both through a minimum tracking error homotopy and minimum time patched solutions. Results are compared to torus agnostic low-thrust transfers using measures of fuel consumption, cumulative torus error, and coast time spent on the torus during maneuver. Modifications to the framework are made for the inclusion of quasi-periodically forced dynamical systems. Lastly, minimum time recovery trajectories with free final torus conditions expose the disparity between the proposed framework and torus agnostic approaches. Examples are drawn from the circular and elliptical restricted three-body problems.