Low thrust power-limited transfer for a pole squatter

Abstract

The problem of minimum fuel transfer in a central gravity field for power-limited low thrust propulsion has been studied by several investigators. Orbital averaging was used by Edelbaum in the co-axial and co-planar cases, and by Marec and Vinh for the general transfer between elliptical orbits. The co-latus rectum transfer, which has a complete analytical solution, can be applied to the Pole Squatter. Typical results for the evolution of the orbit parameters and the variation of the thrust acceleration along the orbit are shown.