A collocation approach for computing solar sail pole-sitter orbits

Abstract

Implementation of a 12th-order Gauss-Lobatto collocation scheme is detailed, including mesh refinement iterations to meet a user-specified error tolerance. The algorithm is robust and efficient, locating path constrained orbits when little information is available regarding the behavior of the solutions. Using a Fourier series control law, the method is applied to the computation of highly unstable, pole-sitter orbits in the Earth-moon restricted three-body problem. The results are comparable to those obtained with standard explicit propagators.