Patent ID: 6751531
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
A method of changing at least one of an inclination and an altitude of an object including at least one of a space vehicle, satellite and rocket by generating a combination first Hohmann transfer for the object emanating substantially at at least one of earth, earth orbit and a first heavenly location to arrive at a weak stability boundary (WSB) or WSB orbit at or near at least one of the moon, moon orbit and a second heavenly location and generating a second Hohmann transfer for the object emanating at the WSB or the WSB orbit to return to that at least one of the earth, the earth orbit and the first heavenly location, using a computer implemented process, comprising the sequential or non-sequential steps of:(a) generating the first Hohmann transfer for convergence of first target variables at the WSB or the WSB orbit; (b) traveling from a first altitude relative to the at least one of the earth, the earth orbit and the first heavenly location to a weak capture in the WSB or the WSB orbit using the first Hohmann transfer; (c) optionally performing an inclination change at the WSB or the WSB orbit; (d) generating the second Hohmann transfer for convergence of second target variables at the at least one of the earth, the earth orbit, the first heavenly location and the second heavenly location from the WSB or the WSB orbit, optionally including the inclination change performed in step (c); and (e) traveling from the WSB or the WSB orbit to the at least one of the earth, the earth orbit, the first heavenly location and the second heavenly location at a predetermined arbitrary altitude different from said first altitude using the second Hohmann transfer; and wherein said first and said second transfers are generated using a forward targeting method.