Design of Gravity Assist trajectory from Earth to Jupiter

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to find a combination of conical trajectories, using gravitational assisted maneuvers (swing-by), which perform the transfer from a nearby of the departure planet (Earth) to the vicinity of the arrival planet (Jupiter), making a closest approaches with Mars (flyby) to reduce the fuel consumption for the journey. A detailed description of the mission from Earth— Mars—Jupiter, that used this technique is presented. The table of flyby dates, altitudes of closest approaches is also included. A methodology known as the Patched Conics was used, where the trajectory is divided into three parts:

Keywords

• interplanetary trajectories
• gravity assist
• flyby
• departure and arrival trajectories
• primary: 70f15
• secondary: 70m20