Station-keeping in high near-circular polar orbits around the Moon

• Published in: Acta astronautica Vol. 188; pp. 185 - 192
• Main Authors: Tselousova, Anastasia, Trofimov, Sergey, Shirobokov, Maksim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elmsford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Double-averaged equations of motion; Equations of motion; Errors; Gravitational fields; High-altitude lunar orbit; Lidov–Kozai effect; Lunar exploration; Lunar orbits; Lunar station; Lunar surface; Moon; Orbits; Perturbation; Polar orbits; Rocket launches; Space missions; Spacecraft; Stable manifold; Station-keeping; Lunar station; Stable manifold; Lidov–Kozai effect; Double-averaged equations of motion; Station-keeping; High-altitude lunar orbit
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.07.025

High circular polar orbits around the Moon are considered as one of the options for placing a prospective lunar station. Due to gravitational perturbations from the Earth, such orbits are subject to the Lidov–Kozai effect. This effect results in the increase in the average value of the eccentricity, which eventually leads to the collision of the spacecraft with the lunar surface. Therefore, when used in lunar missions, these orbits require periodic corrections. The work proposes a station-keeping technique for high near-circular polar lunar orbits based on the dynamical structures of the double-averaged equations of motion that include the central gravitational fields of the Earth and the Moon. The annual station-keeping delta-v for a 10,000 km polar orbit is presented considering navigation errors and maneuver execution errors. The nominal parameters of the orbit are selected to increase its lifetime. •Stability properties of high lunar orbits are investigated.•We use the double-averaged equations of motion to predict the orbital evolution.•A two-impulse station-keeping technique for high polar lunar orbits is proposed.•The stable manifold of the zero-eccentricity equilibrium is targeted.•The annual station-keeping cost for a 10,000 km polar lunar orbit is about 20 m/s.