Libration point orbits for lunar global positioning systems

With the development of lunar exploration, a lunar global positioning system (LGPS) is demanded for both on-ground and in-flight lunar exploration missions. The traditional configuration of constellation requires at least eighteen satellites to cover the whole lunar surface continuously. In this paper, the configurations of the libration point orbits (LPOs) constellations are investigated. By using the constellations on the Earth–Moon _L1$L_1$ and _L2$L_2$ LPOs, the basic functions of the LGPS can be realized by using eight to fourteen satellites. First, the LPO and the combinations of LPOs, which can be used in the constellations of the LGPS, are investigated. The criteria and procedures of the configuration design are introduced. Second, the configurations of LPOs constellations are investigated in the Earth–Moon circular-restricted three-body problem (CR3BP). The size of the LPOs and the distribution of the satellites on these LPOs are determined by using an exhaustive algorithm and a global optimization method, respectively. The key performance parameters of these constellations are computed. Third, the constellations with good performance in the CR3BP are redesigned in the more accurate Earth–Moon based Sun-perturbed bicircular four-body problem (B4BP). Moreover, in order to avoid the ground coverage problem caused by the perturbation of the Sun, some modifications are implemented, and the configuration of the no blind area LGPS in the B4BP is obtained.