Low energy transfer

A low energy transfer, or low energy trajectory, is a route in space which allows spacecraft to change orbits using very little fuel.^[1][2] These routes work in the Earth-Moon system and also in other systems, such as traveling between the satellites of Jupiter. The drawback of such trajectories is that they take much longer to complete than higher energy (more fuel) transfers such as Hohmann transfer orbits.

Low energy transfers follow special pathways in space, sometimes referred to as the Interplanetary Transport Network. Missions that have used low energy transfers are SMART-1, of the European Space Agency, and Genesis, of NASA.^{[citation needed]}

History

Low energy transfers to the Moon were first demonstrated in 1991 by the Japanese spacecraft Hiten. This was a result of a mission rescue by Edward Belbruno and James Miller. The transfer used by Hiten is a revolutionary new type of low energy transfer to the Moon derived from Weak Stability Boundary Theory.^[1] Unlike the standard three day transfer to the Moon this low energy route does not require large rocket engines to slow down to be captured into lunar orbit. However, it took Hiten five months instead of the more normal three days.^[3]

See also

• Orbital mechanics
• Interplanetary Transport Network
• Gravitational slingshot

References

External links

• Celestial Mechanics Theory Meets the Nitty-Gritty of Trajectory Design
• Earth-to-Moon Low Energy Transfers Targeting L₁ Hyperbolic Transit Orbits
• Low Energy Trajectories and Chaos: Applications to Astrodynamics and Dynamical Astronomy
• Navigating Celestial Currents

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