Aero-gravity powered maneuvers to change the inclination of a spacecraft

Abstract

This paper study orbital maneuvers to change the inclination and the energy of a spacecraft using close approaches between a spacecraft and a planet. It is considered the presence of an atmosphere in the planet and the possibility to apply an impulse when the spacecraft passes by the periapsis of its trajectory around the planet. It is assumed that the system has three bodies: The planet, the Sun, and the spacecraft. The two larger bodies are assumed to be in planar circular orbits. The planets Earth, Mars and Venus are considered as examples in the numerical simulations. In this way, the spacecraft uses the maneuver in the atmosphere of the planet to change the inclination and the energy at the same time.