Mission design for global mapping orbits at primitive bodies

Abstract

Global mapping campaigns are part of most primitive body exploration missions. However, designing a mapping orbit without station keeping maneuvers is challenging due to the highly perturbed environment near small bodies. In this paper, we present a new design methodology to support mapping campaigns using ‘quasi-terminator’ orbits, a class of quasi-periodic orbits that exist in the vicinity of the well-known terminator orbits. The inherent stability of quasi-terminator trajectories and their wide variety of viewing geometries make them a very compelling option for mapping campaigns. A high-fidelity test case solution is also presented to prove the existence of these mapping orbits in full ephemeris.