High-Fidelity Multiple-Flyby Trajectory Optimization Using Multiple-Shooting

Abstract

Rendering a complex spacecraft trajectory in high fidelity can be an expensive endeavor, both computationally and from a human time/cost standpoint. However, in many cases, a low-fidelity trajectory that reasonably approximates a high-fidelity counterpart is much easier to obtain. Thus, it is important to have an efficient process for converting a trajectory from lower-fidelity model to high fidelity. We present a method for converting low-fidelity trajectories into high fidelity that relies on multiple shooting, nonlinear programming, and numerical integration. The procedure converts any zero-radius sphere-of-influence gravity-assist events to fully integrated flyby events. Several numerical examples are presented that showcase the flexibility of the high-fidelity rendering process across multiple mission types and flight regimes.