On optimization of many-revolution low-thrust orbit transfers: Part 1

The paper proposes a numerical approach to the problem of optimal control of low-thrust spacecraft in a strong central gravity field. The approach employs the solution of the averaged equations of optimal motion. For an optimal variable-thrust maneuver, it is shown that quasioptimal trajectories are close to the averaged ones. It is established that in the case of constant thrust, the averaged solutions can be used as a satisfactory first approximation for finding a quasioptimal solution by minimizing the discrepancy at the right end of the trajectory __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 44, No. 7, pp. 110–119, July 2008.