Low-thrust trajectory design method based on nominal orbit

After study of the fuel-optimal low-thrust transfer with variable thrust and analysis of the difficulty of numerical algorithm for traditional trajectory optimization model, a trajectory optimization model, or nominal orbit optimization model was given by the introduction of nominal orbit concept, which can overcome drawbacks of traditional trajectory optimization model with rapid convergence and easy initial guess. An example of low-thrust Earth-Mars orbit transfer was presented in order to demonstrate feasibility of using this nominal orbit method and main applications and their scope were given.