Optimal transfer trajectories to the haumea system

Abstract

This paper provides a preliminary study of a mission to the dwarf planet Haumea, focusing on the travel between the Earth and this Kuiper Belt Object (KBO). We generate a set of transfer trajectories from the Earth to Haumea using the patched-conic motion model taking into account close approaches with the planets, as well as direct transfers Earth-Haumea. Several possibilities are considered, such that Earth-Jupiter-Haumea transfer, Earth-Jupiter-Saturn-Haumea transfer, and so on. For each transfer we calculate the launch and arrival windows, showing the minimum total ΔV of the transfer and the excess velocity in the arrival at Haumea. The mid-term 2016-2030 was proposed for the launch of this mission. The exploration of the Haumea system can provide important information about the formation of the KBOs and, consequently, about the Solar System itself. We expect that our results will be useful for a real mission in the future.