• optimization
• primer vector
• deep space manoeuvres
• astrodynamics

The aim of the present work has been to design high-thrust interplanetary
trajectories with Deep Space Manoeuvres (DSMs). The work has been developed at
the department of Astrodynamics & Space Missions, Delft University of Technology,
The Netherlands, within the context of Tudat, TU Delft Astrodynamics Toolbox.
It is a C++ library intended to provide the functionality to perform simulations
for various astrodynamics applications, e.g., interplanetary trajectory optimization,
asteroid-rendezvous missions, re-entry phase, etc. During this work, about 9000 lines
of code have been written, able to simulate a complete interplanetary trajectory.
To model the DSMs, it has been used an indirect optimization method, the
primer vector variational approach. This method allows a strong decrease in the
search space, when a global optimization is applied. Many verications about the
written codes have been made, in particular to test the entire developed package, a
simulation about the current Phobos-Grunt mission has been carried out.