For any technical issue, contact the webmaster.

Web last revised:
January 30, 2009

University of California, Irvine

Spacecraft Orbital Transfer Optimization

Research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under contract with NASA (1981-1987) and at Princeton University under funding from the NASA Lewis Research Center (1988-1991)

Spacecraft to date have been propelled by high-thrust chemical rockets. Alternative propulsive devices, either high-thrust, such as a nuclear-thermal engine, or low-thrust offer the opportunity for increased payloads and more ambitious missions. There are also natural mechanisms - gravity assist and aerodynamic assist - that may be used to alter the trajectory of a spacecraft. Our objective is to determine, for missions of interest, the most fuel efficient flight paths that can be flown using the various orbit changing mechanisms, either separately or in combination.

Flight Dynamics and Control Lab

University Of California, Irvine

To contact Professor Mease: kmease@uci.edu

(Last Revised 7 July 1997)