Keywords:Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moons Interactions wiht the Sun (ARTEMIS); Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission; lunar orbiters
Publisher:Pasadena, CA : Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2011.
Citation:AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Girdwood, Alaska, July 31 ‐ August 4, 2011
Abstract:
As of late-July 2011, the ARTEMIS mission is transferring two spacecraft from Lissajous orbits around Earth-Moon Lagrange Point #1 into highly-eccentric lunar science orbits. This paper presents the trajectory design for the transfer from Lissajous orbit to lunar orbit insertion, the period reduction maneuvers, and the science orbits through 2013. The design accommodates large perturbations from Earth’s gravity and restrictive spacecraft capabilities to enable opportunities for a range of heliophysics and planetary science measurements. The process used to design the highly-eccentric ARTEMIS science orbits is outlined. The approach may inform the design of future planetary moon missions.