High-latitude-landing circumlunar free return trajectory design

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design free return trajectories launching at lower-latitude launch site Wenchang and landing at relatively high-latitude landing site Siziwang Banner tailored to human lunar missions for China, and in general demonstrate the feasibility of high-latitude landings with acceptable entry range.

Design/methodology/approach

Free return trajectories satisfying all basic constraints were generated directly by a high-fidelity model with multiple differential corrections. Suitable initial assumptions, control parameters, constraints and stopping conditions were set. Method was developed to automatically converge unlimited trajectories accurately to the same constraints, and their characteristics affected by the ephemeris were analyzed.

Findings

Launching into lower Earth inclination plus high-latitude landing with acceptable entry range requires asymmetric trajectories with high inclination Earth entry only from the south. Periodic trends of parameters at launch, injection and entry were found and analyzed. Nominal trajectory covering phases from launch to landing for China human moon flight with minimum entry range were designed.

Practical implications

Such trajectories can be used by China’s future manned lunar missions. Spacecraft capability and ground station distribution shall adjust accordingly.

Originality/value

Previous studies mainly concentrated on symmetric free returns using low-fidelity models first. This paper investigates asymmetric free returns skipping simplified gravity model approximation to simultaneously achieve high-latitude landing and acceptable entry range, and accurate automated generation of feasible trajectories daily across 19-year lunar nodal cycle within every monthly launch window without trial and error to reflect the actual effect by the ephemeris only. Others include landing accurately by controlling entry direction and range (and altitude), minimizing entry range and designing an effective scheme of differential correction for full convergence.

Citation

Yim, S.Y. and Baoyin, H. (2015), "High-latitude-landing circumlunar free return trajectory design", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 87 No. 4, pp. 380-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-05-2013-0092