Searching launch opportunity of multiple impulsive transfer for interplanetary mission

To the search of launching opportunity for interplanetary mission, combining contour map method and prime vector theory, an approach to searching launch opportunity with multiple-impulse transfers is proposed. First, the launch opportunities with two-impulse transfers are guessed by plotting the contour map. Then, based on the prime vector theory, the potential launch opportunities with optimal three-impulse or multiple-impulse transfers are obtained via the necessary condition of optimal impulse transfers and time history of primer vector. Taking the asteroid exploration as an example, the research results show that this approach, compared with the conventional method with two-impulse transfers, obtains more potential launch opportunities using the prime vector and adding the middle impulse.