On-orbit operations optimization among multiple cooperative or noncooperative spacecraft, which is often challenged by tight constraints and shifting parameters, has grown to be a hot issue in recent years. The authors of this book summarize related optimization problems into four planning categories: spacecraft multi-mission planning, far-range orbital maneuver planning, proximity relative motion planning and multi-spacecraft coordinated planning. The authors then formulate models, introduce optimization methods, and investigate simulation cases that address problems in these four categories. This text will serve as a quick reference for engineers, graduate students, postgraduates in the fields of optimization research and on-orbit operation mission planning.

Satellites at geosynchronous orbital altitudes are highly valuable for national defense, but are also difficult to access and monitor. Uncrewed inspection spacecraft could supervise various essential defense platforms and deter covert rendezvous by adversaries with malicious intent. 'Neighborhood watch' satellites tasked with this situational awareness mission should be designed and operated in such a way as to maximize their lifespan and efficacy. Motivated by this requirement, this thesis explores the prolonged medium- to close-range spacecraft proximity operations problem from the perspective of continuous optimal trajectory control. A numerical optimization framework is presented for developing and analyzing fuel-, energy-, and time-optimal trajectories with multiple phases using Gauss pseudospectral collocation software. Emphasis is placed on energy efficiency during inspection, for which accurate dynamical models play a critical role in formationkeeping fuel consumption. Various scenarios are analyzed for minimum-energy solutions, such as tactical phasing and insertion into periodic trajectories, avoidance of 'no-fly' zones, inclusion of coupling attitude dynamics, and operations with highly-eccentric targets. This thesis focuses primarily on proximity operations carried out in geosynchronous orbital regimes and neglects orbit perturbations, instead determining the pure cost of linearizing Keplerian gravity using the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire model. Error in relative position, angular rate of circumnavigation, and fuel use to enforce linearized periodic trajectories are characterized. It was determined that proximity operations utilizing low-thrust high-specific-impulse solar electric propulsion are well-suited to minimum-energy trajectory optimization with this method. While the contributed analysis tool is not suitable for on-board optimal trajectory generation, it provides a framework to perform useful pre-mission analyses.

Operations Research in Space and Air is a selection of papers reflecting the experience and expertise of international OR consulting companies and academic groups. The global market and competition play a crucial part in the decision making processes within the Space and Air industries and this book gives practical examples of how advanced applications can be used by Space and Air industry management. The material within the book provides both the basic background for the novice modeler and a useful reference for experienced modelers. Students, researchers and OR practitioners will appreciate the details of the modeling techniques, the processes that have been implemented and the computational results that demonstrate the benefits in applying OR in the Space and Airline industries. Advances in PC and Workstations technology, in optimiza tion engines and in modeling techniques now enable solving problems, never before attained by Operations Research. In recent years the Ital ian OR Society (AfRO, www. airo. org) has organized annual forums for researchers and practitioners to meet together to present and dis cuss the various scientific and technical OR achievements. The OR in Space 8 Air session of AfR02001 and AfR02002 Conferences, together with optimization tools' applications, presented recent results achieved by Alenia Spazio S. p. A. (Turin), Alitalia, Milan Polytechnic and Turin Polytechinc. With additional contributions from academia and indus try they have enabled us to capture, in print, today's 'state-of-the-art' optimization and data mining solutions.

This volume presents a selection of advanced case studies that address a substantial range of issues and challenges arising in space engineering. The contributing authors are well-recognized researchers and practitioners in space engineering and in applied optimization. The key mathematical modeling and numerical solution aspects of each application case study are presented in sufficient detail. Classic and more recent space engineering problems – including cargo accommodation and object placement, flight control of satellites, integrated design and trajectory optimization, interplanetary transfers with deep space manoeuvres, low energy transfers, magnetic cleanliness modeling, propulsion system design, sensor system placement, systems engineering, space traffic logistics, and trajectory optimization – are discussed. Novel points of view related to computational global optimization and optimal control, and to multidisciplinary design optimization are also given proper emphasis. A particular attention is paid also to scenarios expected in the context of future interplanetary explorations. Modeling and Optimization in Space Engineering will benefit researchers and practitioners working on space engineering applications. Academics, graduate and post-graduate students in the fields of aerospace and other engineering, applied mathematics, operations research and optimal control will also find the book useful, since it discusses a range of advanced model development and solution techniques and tools in the context of real-world applications and new challenges.

The purpose of this research is to provide Space Station Freedom protective structures design insight through the coupling of design/material requirements, hypervelocity impact phenomenology, meteoroid and space debris environment sensitivities, optimization techniques and operations research strategies, and mission scenarios. The goals of the research are: (1) to develop a Monte Carlo simulation tool which will provide top level insight for Space Station protective structures designers; (2) to develop advanced shielding concepts relevant to Space Station Freedom using unique multiple bumper approaches; and (3) to investigate projectile shape effects on protective structures design. Mog, Robert A. and Helba, Michael J. and Hill, Janeil B. Unspecified Center HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT; MONTE CARLO METHOD; OPTIMIZATION; SPACE STATION FREEDOM; SPACECRAFT SHIELDING; SPACECRAFT SURVIVABILITY; BUMPERS; METEOROID CONCENTRATION; OPERATIONS RESEARCH; PROJECTILES; SPACE DEBRIS; SPACE STATION STRUCTURES...

In the context of Human Spaceflight exploration mission scenario, with the Deep Space Gateway (DSG) on a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) about Earth-Moon Lagrangian Point (EML), Rendezvous and Docking (RVD) operational activities are mandatory and critical for assembly of the DSG to be performed by the Orion spacecraft. Orion will also handle cargo delivery and crew exchange missions and they all require RVD. There is extensive experience with RVD in the two-body problem in Low Earth Orbit to various space stations or around Low Lunar Orbit quasi circular, the latter by Apollo in manual RVD. Despite that no operational RVD has yet been performed in the vicinity of the Lagrangian points, where Keplerian dynamics is not applicable. There are some drawbacks from the complexity, but also some strong advantages that need to be researched in depth by the work proposed here. Despite vast literature on families of trajectories about the Lagrangian points and transfers in the Cis-Lunar realm, the scientific community has, at the moment, very few relevant research results in the non Keplerian dynamic domain. However, in recent years one can be seen the emergence of some sparse publications on the subject, which can be explained by the studies related to DSG and Orion missions. Within the partners, semi-analytical tools have been developed to compute and model families of orbits like NRHO, DRO, Lyapunov, Halo and Lissajous about the Lagrangian points in the Circular Restricted Three Body Problem (CR3BP). Hence there is a good starting point for the research for the overall rendezvous strategy considering vehicle and operations constraints. The proposed PhD project is expected to further and strengthen the work already carried out and some of the celestial mechanics tools developed. Further to that research shall be performed regarding the GNC design for such missions and the accuracies that can be achieved with today technologies and what is required. Assuming the DSG to be the target, RVD will be performed in this project by visiting vehicles arriving from the Earth.