meetings - Space Flight Mechanics Committee

10:45 AAS Sequential Convex Programming For Impulsive Transfer Optimization In
13-304 Multibody Systems
Eric Trumbauer, University of California, Irvine; Benjamin Villac, University of
California, Irvine
This paper describes the development of a rapid local optimizer for minimum fuel
impulsive transfers in multibody and higher order gravity systems. This iterative process
involves solving approximate convex problems and using differential correction to restore
continuity. State transition matrices of arcs in the nonlinear system are used to derive the
linear equality constraints and cost function of the convex approximation. Dynamic trust
regions and other constraints are also shown to be convex. The exact solution of the
resulting subproblem is found using existing convex solvers. Performance is compared to
existing methods and is seen to be fast and robust.
11:05 AAS Orbit Clustering Based on Transfer Cost
13-297 Eric Gustafson, NASA / Caltech JPL; Juan Arrieta, NASA / Caltech JPL;
Anastassios Petropoulos, NASA / Caltech JPL
We propose using cluster analysis to perform quick screening for combinatorial global
optimization problems. The key missing component currently preventing cluster analysis
from use in this context is the lack of a useable metric function that defines the cost to
transfer between two orbits. We study several proposed metrics and clustering algorithms,
including k-means and the expectation maximization algorithm. We also show that proven
heuristic methods such as the Q-law can be modified to work with cluster analysis.
23 rd AAS / AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting Page 49