Low–Energy Lunar Trajectory Design

Based on years of research conducted at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the authors provide high-level information to mission managers and designers about low-energy transfers between Earth and the moon. They address high-level questions about the availability and performance of such transfers in any given month and year.

Based on years of research conducted at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Low-Energy Lunar Trajectory Design provides high-level information to mission managers and detailed information to mission designers about low-energy transfers between Earth and the moon. The book answers high-level questions about the availability and performance of such transfers in any given month and year. Low-energy lunar transfers are compared with various other types of transfers, and placed within the context of historical missions. Using this book, designers may reconstruct any transfer described therein, as well as design similar transfers with particular design parameters. An Appendix, “Locating the Lagrange Points,” and a useful list of terms and constants completes this technical reference. Surveys thousands of possible trajectories that may be used to transfer spacecraft between Earth and the moon, including transfers to lunar libration orbits, low lunar orbits, and the lunar surfaceProvides information about the methods, models, and tools used to design low-energy lunar transfersIncludes discussion about the variations of these transfers from one month to the next, and the important operational aspects of implementing a low-energy lunar transferAdditional discussions address navigation, station-keeping, and spacecraft systems issues