11/03/07

N. Trawny, M. Graesslin, R. Laufer, and H.-P. Roeser. Mission scenarios for a controlled lunar impact of a small satellite. In Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Vancouver, 2004.

Abstract:

The Institute of Space Systems (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart is currently planning a lunar small satellite mission. The satellite will be equipped with a 6 mN and a 100 mN electric propulsion system. At the end of its primary science mission, it will perform a controlled impact-experiment on the lunar surface, including the soft landing of a small surface unit.

In this paper we present the results of a numerical simulation and optimization of possible impact trajectories starting from the satellite's initial 100 km polar, circular orbit. The perturbing accelerations being in the same order of magnitude as the thrust, we used thrust vector control for efficient orbit manipulation.

First results show that an impact using the electrical thrusters is principally feasible. Using the 6 mN thrusters by themselves for the deorbit maneuver is unadvisable due to the long thrust durations and the very low impact angle, making the impact inaccurate and difficult to control. The 100 mN thruster, however, together with an additional solid rocket motor for a final aposelene boost, yields much more favorable impact conditions at the price of a higher subsystem mass.

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Bibtex Entry:

@inproceedings{Trawny04iac,

author = {Nikolas Trawny and Michael Graesslin and Rene Laufer and Hans-Peter Roeser},

title = {Mission Scenarios for a Controlled Lunar Impact of a Small Satellite},

booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC)},

address = {Vancouver},

year = {2004},

misc = {Poster Presentation IAC-04-IAA.4.11.P.05}

}
 

© 2004 by Nikolas Trawny

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