IN-situ Debris Inventorisation near the Geostationary Orbit (INDIGO): a feasibility study

Recent launches of satellite constellations in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) region have increased the collision probability of existing debris objects with active satellites. Monitoring the trajectories of these debris objects is crucial for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) to prevent the creation of more debris due to unwanted collisions. Much...

Preliminary design of a crewed Mars flyby Solar Electric Propulsion mission

The goal of this thesis research has been the improvement of a validated, robust low-thrust optimization tool for interplanetary trajectory design, written during the author's internship. This improved tool has then been applied to design crewed Martian flyby missions. Such a mission is a crucial step within the flexible path scenario for human...

A Hodographic-Shaping Method for Low-Thrust Trajectory Design

The goal of this research was to develop an analytic low-thrust trajectory design method. The term low thrust stems form the fact that current electric propulsion systems can only produce low amounts of thrust. Nevertheless, these systems can deliver very high amounts of ?V using little propellant, which makes them very suitable for...

Optimization of interplanetary trajectories with deep space maneuvers - Model development and application to a Uranus orbiter mission