Low-Thrust Orbit Transfer Design for DAWN Operations at VESTA

Abstract

Upon arrival at the asteroid Vesta, scheduled for July of 2011, the Dawn spacecraft will target a series of four distinct mapping orbits, each providing a unique opportunity to observe Vesta. The unknown, and potentially complex, Vesta gravity field presents challenges for designing low-thrust transfers between these mapping orbits while maintaining spacecraft safety from Vesta occultation of the Sun. This paper provides a description of the orbit transfers designed for Vesta operations along with a discussion of the constraints and methods used to design these transfers. The effect of alternate gravity fields on the viability of the designs and the design method is also considere