Advanced Techniques for Trajectory Design and Optimization

Traditional multi-body mission design and trajectory optimization processes are notorious for their laborious and time-intensive nature, requiring weeks or even months to generate a single reference trajectory for these multifaceted missions. This underscores the critical necessity for novel techniques and tools capable of expediting and enhancing the trajectory design and optimization process. Not only is the design space infinite, system uncertainties in this complex and sensitive dynamical environment are not yet well understood. For this phase I effort, Navigation Uncertainty ANalysis in the Cislunar Environment (NUANCE) aims to partner with Purdue University to analyze spacecraft system uncertainties in a multi-body dynamical environment through the evaluation of two relevant test cases. This effort proposes to introduce Gaussian uncertainty by employing sigma sampling techniques to the initial conditions of deterministically-optimized transfer scenarios. By propagating the trajectories from these sampled points using the originally optimized maneuver values (∆V, transfer time), this study aims to observe the position uncertainty over time during orbit transfers in cislunar space. Taking another approach of analyzing the sigma-like points, maneuver errors will be assessed by re-optimizing the transfers from these sampled points and observing the spread in ∆V and transfer time. Test case options include transfers along unstable manifolds transferring to and from periodic or quasi-periodic orbits and utilizing “free” ∆V transfers between orbits around L1 and L3 via “Cycler” orbits, which offer a unique case to compare propagated sigma-point trajectories. Target markets include NASA missions beyond the Earth, small commercial spacecraft companies and universities that would benefit from lower propellant requirements and increased navigation/maneuver knowledge, and the military organizations interested in cislunar space operations.