Optimization of Multi-Orbit Transfers between Noncoplanar Elliptic Orbits

Using the maximum principle formalism, the problem of optimizing interorbital transfer between two noncoplanar elliptic orbits is reduced to solution of a boundary value problem for a system of ordinary differential equations. In order to solve the resulting boundary value problem numerically, the numerical homotopic method or modified Newton's method is used. When solving the boundary value problem, the right-hand sides of differential equations of motion are averaged numerically. Efficient software is developed, and a large number of optimal trajectories are calculated using it. As a result of analysis of these numerical data, new high-quality results are obtained. Specifically, a bifurcation of optimal solutions is found, the existence of critical inclination is demonstrated, and a partial classification of the structure of optimal control is performed.