Trajectory Optimization Methods for Low-Thrust Kuiper Belt Flyby Missions

The Kuiper belt is one of the last mostly unexplored regions in the Solar System. Exploration of the Kuiper belt can greatly increase humanity's understanding of the Solar System's formation and evolution. The use of low-thrust propulsion for Kuiper belt missions has the potential to improve the payload mass of the mission due to the high...

Orbit Modeling of Galilean Moons Flybys

This research aims at modeling the trajectory followed by the Galileo spacecraft during a variety of flybys about the Galilean moons. The chosen flybys have good Earth’s elevation angles and either low or high closest-approach altitudes, so that the comparison of the two can give relevant insight into the accuracy of the corresponding...