An Analysis of Low-Thrust Satellite Tour Strategy in the Jupiter System

A new method for designing a Tisserand graph with low-thrust between gravity assists is proposed. The motion of a spacecraft is considered in the context of the circular restricted three-body problem and the zero-radius sphere of influence model, based on conjugate conic sections. Simple control algorithms for changing the semimajor axis and eccentricity are used for low-thrust maneuvers. Analysis of the proposed control algorithms is carried out. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is shown. Examples of effective low-thrust spacecraft maneuvering strategies in the Jupiter satellite system for transfer to the orbits of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto have been obtained.