Minimum-Time Earth-to-Mars Interplanetary Orbit Transfer Using Adaptive Gaussian Quadrature Collocation

Abstract

The problem of minimum-time, low-thrust, Earth-to-Mars interplanetary orbital trajectory optimization is considered. The minimum-time orbital transfer problem is modeled as a fourphase optimal control problem where the four phases correspond to planetary alignment, Earth escape, heliocentric transfer, and Mars capture. The four-phase optimal control problem is then