Optimizing Propellant Distribution for Interorbital Transfers

De Curtò, J. ; De Zarzà, I. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The advent of space exploration missions, especially those aimed at establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon and beyond, necessitates the development of efficient propulsion and mission planning techniques. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of chemical and electric propulsion systems for spacecraft, focusing on optimizing propellant distribution for missions involving transfers from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and the Lunar surface. Using mathematical modeling and optimization algorithms, we calculate the delta-v requirements for key mission segments and determine the propellant mass required for each propulsion method. The results highlight the trade-offs between the high thrust of chemical propulsion and the high specific impulse of electric propulsion. An optimization model is developed to minimize the total propellant mass, considering a hybrid approach that leverages the advantages of both propulsion types. This research contributes to the field of aerospace engineering by providing insights into propulsion system selection and mission planning for future exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/math12060900

Año: 2024

Publicado en: Mathematics 12, 6 (2024), 900 [19 pp.]
ISSN: 2227-7390

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Lenguajes y Sistemas Inf. (Dpto. Informát.Ingenie.Sistms.)

Dataset asociado: Optimizing Propellant Distribution for Interorbital Transfers¶ ( https://figshare.com/articles/software/_b_Optimizing_Propellant_Distribution_for_Interorbital_Transfers_b_/25428211?file=45107179)