Review of Trajectory Design and Optimization for Jovian System Exploration

Abstract

Jupiter exploration is one of the focuses of deep space exploration in the near future. Design and optimization of trajectories in the Jovian system are crucial technologies for Jupiter exploration missions due to the unique and challenging multi-body dynamical environment. Various methodologies have been proposed and developed. However, there is a lack of comprehensive review of these methodologies, which is unfavorable for further developing new design techniques and proposing new mission schemes. This review provides a systematic summarization of the past and state-of-art methodologies for 4 main exploration phases, including Jupiter capture, the tour of the Galilean moons, Jupiter global mapping, and orbiting around and landing on a target moon. For each exploration phase, the related methods are categorized according to the fundamental features. The advantages and capabilities of the methods are described or analyzed, revealing the research progress. Finally, a prospect of future development of the methods is presented, aiming at providing references for further studies on trajectory design and optimization in the Jovian system.