Space Trajectory Optimization & Mission Design

 

Any space mission with a propulsion system (e.g., chemical engine, ion engine, solar sail, etc) cannot fly without designing optimal trajectories under the action of orbit controls. The trajectory optimization process must take into account the nonlinear effect of orbital mechanics and perturbations, leading to nonlinear, non-convex optimal control problems. This research thrust develops techniques, algorithms, and tools for optimizing space trajectories for space exploration and sciences, including cislunar space, interplanetary space, outer planets, and asteroids/comets.

Relevant projects:

• Indirect forward-backward shooting for low-thrust trajectory optimization in multi-body dynamics
• An adaptive-mesh discretization method for sequential convex programming

Relevant articles:

• Adaptive-Mesh Sequential Convex Programming for Space Trajectory Optimization
  N. Kumagai and K. Oguri
  AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2023
• Low-thrust Trajectory Optimization for Enceladus Exploration Using Indirect Forward-Backward Shooting. 
  Y. Sidhoum and K. Oguri
  AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2023
• Indirect trajectory optimization via solar sailing primer vector theory: Minimum solar-angle transfers.
  K. Oguri and G. Lantoine
  Acta Astronautica, 211:405–415, Oct. 2023
• Solar Sailing Q-law for Planetocentric, Many-Revolution Sail Orbit Transfers, 
  K. Oguri, G. Lantoine, A. E. Petropoulos, and J. W. McMahon.
  AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2023
• Indirect Forward-Backward Shooting for Low-thrust Trajectory Optimization in Complex Dynamics
  Y. Sidhoum and K. Oguri
  AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, 2023
• On the Performance of Different Smoothing Methods for Indirect Low-thrust Trajectory Optimization
  Y. Sidhoum and K. Oguri
  AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, 2023
• Stochastic Sequential Convex Programming for Robust Low-thrust Trajectory Design under Uncertainty.
  K. Oguri and G. Lantoine.
  AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2022
• Solar Sailing Primer Vector Theory: Indirect Trajectory Optimization with Practical Mission Considerations
  K. Oguri, G. Lantoine, and J. W. McMahon
  AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (JGCD), 2021
• EQUULEUS Trajectory Design
  K. Oguri, K. Oshima, S. Campagnola, K. Kakihara, N. Ozaki, N. Baresi, Y. Kawakatsu, R. Funase
  AAS Journal of the Astronautical Sciences (JASS), 2020
• Stochastic Primer Vector for Robust Low-thrust Trajectory Design under Uncertainty
  K. Oguri and J. W. McMahon
  AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (JGCD), 2021
• PROCYON Mission Reanalysis: Low-Thrust Asteroid Flyby Trajectory Design leveraging Convex Programming.
  N. Ozaki, K. Oguri, and R. Funase
  AAS The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Feb. 2022