Near-optimal feedback guidance for low-thrust earth orbit transfers

Near-optimal feedback guidance for low-thrust earth orbit transfers

D. Atmaca, M. Pontani

Abstract. This research proposes a near-optimal feedback guidance based on nonlinear control for low-thrust Earth orbit transfers. For the numerical simulations, two flight conditions are defined: (i) nominal conditions and (ii) nonnominal conditions that account for the orbit injection errors and the stochastic failures of the propulsion system. Condition (ii) is studied through an extensive Monte Carlo Analysis, to demonstrate the nonlinear feedback guidance’s numerical stability and convergence properties. To illustrate the performance under both conditions, an orbit transfer from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit is considered. Near-optimality of the feedback guidance comes from carefully selecting the nonlinear control gains. Comparison of the transfer with an existing study that uses optimal control reveals that orbit transfers based on feedback orbit control are very close to the optimal solution.

Keywords
Earth Orbit Transfers, Low-Thrust Spacecraft, Feedback Guidance and Control

Published online 11/1/2023, 5 pages
Copyright © 2023 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: D. Atmaca, M. Pontani, Near-optimal feedback guidance for low-thrust earth orbit transfers, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 37, pp 606-610, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644902813-132

The article was published as article 132 of the book Aeronautics and Astronautics

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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