A Modified Targeting Strategy for Station-Keeping of Libration Point Orbits in the Real Earth-Moon System

Abstract

In this paper, a modified targeting strategy is developed for missions on libration point orbits (LPOs) in the real Earth-Moon system. In order to simulate a station-keeping procedure in a dynamic model as realistic as possible, LPOs generated in the circular restricted three-body problem (CRTBP) are discretized and reconverged in a geocentric inertial system for later simulations. After that, based on the dynamic property of the state transition matrix, a modified strategy of selecting target points for station-keeping is presented to reduce maneuver costs. By considering both the solar gravity and radiation pressure in a nominal LPO design, station-keeping simulations about fuel consumption for real LPOs around both collinear and triangular libration points are performed in a high-fidelity ephemeris model. Results show the effectivity of the modified strategy with total maneuver costs reduced by greater than 10% for maintaining triangular LPOs.