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Research paper thumbnail of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization models and algorithms for space launch vehicles

13th AIAA/ISSMO …, 2010

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Research paper thumbnail of Global Optimization Techniques in Space Missions Design

Politecnico di Milano, MSc Thesis, 2008

... 156 Table 51: Summary of input, design and output variables and relative constraints for the ... more ... 156 Table 51: Summary of input, design and output variables and relative constraints for the ... following main objectives have been defined: • Identification through an extensive literature study of a ... of-art in global optimization methods; • Definition of a rigorous experimental set-up ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Multidisciplinary design optimization for space vehicle

The paper presents the ongoing research activity on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) o... more The paper presents the ongoing research activity on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) of the ESA PRESTIGE Program (PRrogram in Education for Space, Technology, Innovation and knowledGE), which is aimed at providing the European Space Agency with a new software technology for assisting in the early design phases of space vehicles. During the research, a software called SVAGO (Space Vehicles Analysis and Global Optimization) for future space transportation systems will be developed for the conceptual and early preliminary design of launch and re-entry vehicles, exploiting the synergies of the different interacting disciplines through the MDO methodology. First results of the research, namely the conceptual level modelling and optimization of classical expendable launch vehicles, will be presented in the paper, together with an overview of the complete software under development and its capabilities. Particular attention will be paid to the launcher subsystems analysis architecture, to the global and local optimization algorithms and the MDO architectures selected for this purpose.

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Research paper thumbnail of Optimal trajectories towards small bodies: a new global strategy with local refinements

The paper presents an algorithm for the solution of a low thrust trajectory global optimization p... more The paper presents an algorithm for the solution of a low thrust trajectory global optimization problem, with the goal of maximizing the relevance of a rendezvous mission to a given Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) by visiting the largest set of intermediate asteroids. In case of a mission requiring a long duration journey towards a target small body in fact, the scientific return would be enormously increased by the possibility to fly-by several other secondary objectives along the way, periodically switching on the instruments of the spacecraft and transmitting data back to Earth. Tough constraints and the lack of a phase structure information lead to a challenging global optimization problem. Led by a new global strategy that guides local optimization techniques, a promising asteroids sequence was found. A solution with 26 NEA y-bys in 9.82 years will be presented.

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Research paper thumbnail of A mars communication constellation for human exploration and network science

Advances in Space Research, 2008

This paper analyses the possibility of exploiting a small spacecrafts constellation around Mars t... more This paper analyses the possibility of exploiting a small spacecrafts constellation around Mars to ensure a complete and continuous coverage of the planet, for the purpose of supporting future human and robotic operations and taking advantage of optical transmission techniques. The study foresees such a communications mission to be implemented at least after 2020 and a high data-rate requirement is imposed for the return of huge scientific data from massive robotic exploration or to allow video transmissions from a possible human outpost.In addition, the set-up of a communication constellation around Mars would give the opportunity of exploiting this multi-platform infrastructure to perform network science, that would largely increase our knowledge of the planet.The paper covers all technical aspects of a feasibility study performed for the primary communications mission. Results are presented for the system trade-offs, including communication architecture, constellation configuration and transfer strategy, and the mission analysis optimization, performed through the application of a multi-objective genetic algorithm to two models of increasing difficulty for the low-thrust trajectory definition.The resulting communication architecture is quite complex and includes six 530 kg spacecrafts on two different orbital planes, plus one redundant unit per plane, that ensure complete coverage of the planet’s surface; communications between the satellites and Earth are achieved through optical links, that allow lower mass and power consumption with respect to traditional radio-frequency technology, while inter-satellite links and spacecrafts-to-Mars connections are ensured by radio transmissions. The resulting data-rates for Earth–Mars uplink and downlink, satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-surface are respectively 13.7 Mbps, 10.2 Mbps, 4.8 Mbps and 4.3 Mbps, in worst-case.Two electric propulsion modules are foreseen, to be placed on a C3∼0 escape orbit with two Zenith Sea Launch rockets in March 2021 and carrying four satellites each. After the entrance in Mars sphere of influence, the single spacecrafts separate and spiral-down with Hall effect thrusters until they reach the final operational orbits in April 2025, at 17,030 km of altitude and 37 deg of inclination. The preliminary design includes 105 kg and 577 W of mass and power margin for each satellite, that can be allocated for scientific payloads.The main challenges of the proposed design are represented by the optical technology development and the connected strict pointing constraints satisfaction, as well as by the Martian constellation operations management.This mission study has therefore shown the possibility of deploying an effective communication infrastructure in Mars orbit employing a small amount of the resources needed for the human exploration programme, additionally providing the chance of performing important scientific research either from orbit or with a network of small rovers carried on-board and deployed on the surface.

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Research paper thumbnail of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization models and algorithms for space launch vehicles

13th AIAA/ISSMO …, 2010

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Global Optimization Techniques in Space Missions Design

Politecnico di Milano, MSc Thesis, 2008

... 156 Table 51: Summary of input, design and output variables and relative constraints for the ... more ... 156 Table 51: Summary of input, design and output variables and relative constraints for the ... following main objectives have been defined: • Identification through an extensive literature study of a ... of-art in global optimization methods; • Definition of a rigorous experimental set-up ...

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Multidisciplinary design optimization for space vehicle

The paper presents the ongoing research activity on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) o... more The paper presents the ongoing research activity on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) of the ESA PRESTIGE Program (PRrogram in Education for Space, Technology, Innovation and knowledGE), which is aimed at providing the European Space Agency with a new software technology for assisting in the early design phases of space vehicles. During the research, a software called SVAGO (Space Vehicles Analysis and Global Optimization) for future space transportation systems will be developed for the conceptual and early preliminary design of launch and re-entry vehicles, exploiting the synergies of the different interacting disciplines through the MDO methodology. First results of the research, namely the conceptual level modelling and optimization of classical expendable launch vehicles, will be presented in the paper, together with an overview of the complete software under development and its capabilities. Particular attention will be paid to the launcher subsystems analysis architecture, to the global and local optimization algorithms and the MDO architectures selected for this purpose.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Optimal trajectories towards small bodies: a new global strategy with local refinements

The paper presents an algorithm for the solution of a low thrust trajectory global optimization p... more The paper presents an algorithm for the solution of a low thrust trajectory global optimization problem, with the goal of maximizing the relevance of a rendezvous mission to a given Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) by visiting the largest set of intermediate asteroids. In case of a mission requiring a long duration journey towards a target small body in fact, the scientific return would be enormously increased by the possibility to fly-by several other secondary objectives along the way, periodically switching on the instruments of the spacecraft and transmitting data back to Earth. Tough constraints and the lack of a phase structure information lead to a challenging global optimization problem. Led by a new global strategy that guides local optimization techniques, a promising asteroids sequence was found. A solution with 26 NEA y-bys in 9.82 years will be presented.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of A mars communication constellation for human exploration and network science

Advances in Space Research, 2008

This paper analyses the possibility of exploiting a small spacecrafts constellation around Mars t... more This paper analyses the possibility of exploiting a small spacecrafts constellation around Mars to ensure a complete and continuous coverage of the planet, for the purpose of supporting future human and robotic operations and taking advantage of optical transmission techniques. The study foresees such a communications mission to be implemented at least after 2020 and a high data-rate requirement is imposed for the return of huge scientific data from massive robotic exploration or to allow video transmissions from a possible human outpost.In addition, the set-up of a communication constellation around Mars would give the opportunity of exploiting this multi-platform infrastructure to perform network science, that would largely increase our knowledge of the planet.The paper covers all technical aspects of a feasibility study performed for the primary communications mission. Results are presented for the system trade-offs, including communication architecture, constellation configuration and transfer strategy, and the mission analysis optimization, performed through the application of a multi-objective genetic algorithm to two models of increasing difficulty for the low-thrust trajectory definition.The resulting communication architecture is quite complex and includes six 530 kg spacecrafts on two different orbital planes, plus one redundant unit per plane, that ensure complete coverage of the planet’s surface; communications between the satellites and Earth are achieved through optical links, that allow lower mass and power consumption with respect to traditional radio-frequency technology, while inter-satellite links and spacecrafts-to-Mars connections are ensured by radio transmissions. The resulting data-rates for Earth–Mars uplink and downlink, satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-surface are respectively 13.7 Mbps, 10.2 Mbps, 4.8 Mbps and 4.3 Mbps, in worst-case.Two electric propulsion modules are foreseen, to be placed on a C3∼0 escape orbit with two Zenith Sea Launch rockets in March 2021 and carrying four satellites each. After the entrance in Mars sphere of influence, the single spacecrafts separate and spiral-down with Hall effect thrusters until they reach the final operational orbits in April 2025, at 17,030 km of altitude and 37 deg of inclination. The preliminary design includes 105 kg and 577 W of mass and power margin for each satellite, that can be allocated for scientific payloads.The main challenges of the proposed design are represented by the optical technology development and the connected strict pointing constraints satisfaction, as well as by the Martian constellation operations management.This mission study has therefore shown the possibility of deploying an effective communication infrastructure in Mars orbit employing a small amount of the resources needed for the human exploration programme, additionally providing the chance of performing important scientific research either from orbit or with a network of small rovers carried on-board and deployed on the surface.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact