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Full-Text Articles in Astrodynamics

A Pareto-Frontier Analysis Of Performance Trends For Small Regional Coverage Leo Constellation Systems, Christopher Alan Hinds Dec 2014

A Pareto-Frontier Analysis Of Performance Trends For Small Regional Coverage Leo Constellation Systems, Christopher Alan Hinds

Master's Theses

As satellites become smaller, cheaper, and quicker to manufacture, constellation systems will be an increasingly attractive means of meeting mission objectives. Optimizing satellite constellation geometries is therefore a topic of considerable interest. As constellation systems become more achievable, providing coverage to specific regions of the Earth will become more common place. Small countries or companies that are currently unable to afford large and expensive constellation systems will now, or in the near future, be able to afford their own constellation systems to meet their individual requirements for small coverage regions.

The focus of this thesis was to optimize constellation geometries …


Trajectory Design In The Spatial Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem Exploiting Higher-Dimensional Poincare Maps, Amanda F. Haapala Oct 2014

Trajectory Design In The Spatial Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem Exploiting Higher-Dimensional Poincare Maps, Amanda F. Haapala

Open Access Dissertations

In this investigation, the role of higher-dimensional Poincaré maps in facilitating trajectory design is explored for a variety of applications. To begin, existing strategies to implement Poincaré maps for trajectory design applications in the spatial CR3BP are evaluated. New applications for these strategies are explored, including an analysis of the natural motion of Jupiter-family comets that experience temporary capture about Jupiter, and the search for periodic orbits in the vicinity of the primary bodies in the spatial problem. Because current strategies to represent higher-dimensional maps, generally, lead to a loss of information, new approaches to represent all information contained in …


Trajectory Optimization For A Misson To The Trojan Asteroids, Shivaji Senapati Gadsing Aug 2014

Trajectory Optimization For A Misson To The Trojan Asteroids, Shivaji Senapati Gadsing

Masters Theses

The problem of finding a minimum-fuel trajectory for a mission to the Jovian Trojan asteroids is considered. The problem is formulated as a modified traveling salesman problem. Two different types of algorithms such as an exhaustive search algorithm and a serial rendezvous search algorithm are developed. The General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) is employed for finding optimum trajectories with minimal fuel consumption. The selection of a minimum-fuel mission trajectory, and the associated target asteroids, will be a key factor in determining feasibility and scientific value of a Trojan tour and rendezvous mission.

The transfer trajectory followed by a spacecraft between …


Design And Analysis Of An Attitude Determination And Control Subsystem (Adcs) For Afit's 6u Standard Bus, Erin R. Dannemeyer Mar 2014

Design And Analysis Of An Attitude Determination And Control Subsystem (Adcs) For Afit's 6u Standard Bus, Erin R. Dannemeyer

Theses and Dissertations

The design and testing of AFIT's 6U Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) are explored to establish 3-axis attitude control. The development of AFIT's 6U CubeSat standard bus is an on-going research effort designed to create in-house CubeSat bus components and software. The 6U chassis measures approximately 11 x 24 x 37 cu cm and can have a mass up to 12 kg. The larger bus size (as compared to the more common 3U CubeSat) allows for increased power capabilities and potential to host multiple or larger payloads. Individual ADCS hardware components were either commercially purchased or built in-house and …


Could We Colonize Venus?, Nihad E. Daidzic Mar 2014

Could We Colonize Venus?, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

No abstract provided.