Trajectory curvature guidance for Mars landings in hazardous terrains

Focusing on the trajectory curvature, this paper presents an innovative and analytical guidance law for the construction of geometrically convex trajectories. Moving along such trajectories, the lander can increase the probability of a safe landing in hazardous terrains. Initially, the curvature theorems of the powered descent trajectories are developed. In these theorems, the inner relationship between trajectory curvature and lander states is revealed, and the state constraints for a geometrically convex trajectory are derived. Next, the trajectory curvature guidance is developed in an analytical formulation by satisfying the state constraints for a convex trajectory, and the selection of the key guidance parameters is investigated. Finally, the performance of the trajectory curvature guidance is analyzed in detail, illustrating its superior hazard avoidance and the camera's field of view.