4.3.

1 Aerodynamic braking maneuvers

Space Mission Design and Operations
Prof. Claude Nicollier

Credits: NASA, JPL

Aerodynamic braking maneuvers
The idea is to generate changes of the velocity.
It could be done by using the atmosphere of a planet
(Mars, Venus) or the satellite of a planet like Titan,
which will minimize the use of propellant or by
thrusters.
A thermal shield on the spacecraft is needed as there
will be an increase in temperature when the
spacecraft gets into the atmosphere.
Aeroentry was used at the end of the Shuttle mission,
for the command module of the Apollo program and is
still used for Soyuz
● Aerocapture
● Transfers the spacecraft from a hyperbolic approach
trajectory to an elliptical orbit around the target planet.
● Further loss of energy will occur at every subsequent
crossing of the periapsis.
● Aerobraking
● Transfers the spacecraft from an initial elliptical orbit to a
less energetic (i.e. lower apoapsis) elliptical orbit.
● Involves small ΔV.
● Aeroentry
● Transfers the spacecraft from either a hyperbolic, parabolic
or elliptical approach orbit to the planet surface.
Space Mission Design and Operations
Aerocapture

Aerocapture has never been used in practice: if the

spacecraft is too close to the center of the planet and the
high-density layers of the atmosphere, with a higher ΔV
than expecting, the entry into the planet may be
uncontrolled. If the spacecraft is too high, it may have a too
small ΔV, and not be able to reach a velocity under the
escape velocity. By changing the shape of its trajectory, it
may still escape the planet.

Credits: NASA, In-Space Propulsion Technology (ISPT),

Michelle M. Munk & Tibor Kremic, March 24, 2008
Space Mission Design and Operations
Aerobraking

Credits: NASA, In-Space Propulsion Technology (ISPT),

Michelle M. Munk & Tibor Kremic, March 24, 2008
Space Mission Design and Operations
Aeroentry

Example of the Apollo command module coming

back from a 3½ days journey from the Moon.
The velocity of entry of the service module with the
three crew members on board in the high
atmosphere was very high, about 11 km per
second.

Credits: NASA
Space Mission Design and Operations
4.3.2 Slingshot maneuver (gravity assist)
Space Mission Design and Operations
Prof. Claude Nicollier
Credits: NASA, Southwest Research Institute, Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
 New Horizons example
● Launched on January 19, 2006.
● Gravity assist of Jupiter on February 28, 2007.
● Pluto flyby on July 14, 2015.

● When a spacecraft on an orbit around the Sun

approaches another planet and comes in close proximity
to it, the gravity of that planet takes over, pulling the
spacecraft in and altering its speed.

● The amount by which the spacecraft speeds up or slows

down is determined by the geometry of the approach,
passing behind or in front of the planet.

● When the spacecraft leaves the sphere of influence of the

planet, it again follows an orbit around the Sun, but a
different one from before, either on course for the original
target or heading for another fly-by.
Credits: NASA, Southwest Research Institute, Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Space Mission Design and Operations

Definitions

● : Heliocentric speed of the gravity-assist-planet.

● : Heliocentric speed of the Earth.

● : Heliocentric speed of the spacecraft after leaving Earth.

● : Heliocentric speed of spacecraft entering the gravity-

assist-planet’s sphere of influence.

● : Heliocentric speed of spacecraft leaving the gravity-

assist-planet’s sphere of influence.

Space Mission Design and Operations

 Slingshot maneuver profile
●  : Heliocentric velocity of the spacecraft entering
the planet’s sphere of influence.
●  : Heliocentric velocity of the spacecraft leaving the
planet’s sphere of influence.
●  : Heliocentric velocity of the planet.
●  : Planetocentric velocity of the spacecraft entering
the planet’s sphere of influence.
●  : Planetocentric velocity of the spacecraft leaving
the planet’s sphere of influence.

Space Mission Design and Operations

 Slingshot maneuver parameters

Departure asymptote

Spacecraft
●  In the vicinity of a planet, the trajectory of a
spacecraft is a hyperbole with a periapsis which
distance rp to the center of the planet can be
adjusted. We have:

●  δ is the angle between the directions of

ptote

and .
Arrival asym

! a ! !∞
VS = VP + va
! d ! !∞
VS = VP + vd
Space Mission Design and Operations
Cassini-Huygens example (4 flybys)

Credits: PD, USGOV

Space Mission Design and Operations
Rosetta’s fourth flyby

Credits: ESA, (images: NASA

Solar System Simulator)
Space Mission Design and Operations