LTTT Overview Paper Abstract

A NASA intercenter team has developed a suite of low-thrust (LT) trajectory analysis tools to make a significant improvement in three major facets of LT trajectory and mission analysis.  These are:  1) ease of use, 2) ability to more robustly converge to solutions, and 3) higher fidelity modeling and accuracy of results.  Due mostly to the short duration of the development, the team concluded that a suite of tools was preferred over having one integrated tool.  This tool-suite, their characteristics and applicability will be described.  Trajectory analysts can read this paper and determine which tool is most appropriate for their problem(s).

What are we doing?

Developing a new state-of-the-art suite (“toolbox”) of low-thrust tools along with improved algorithms and methods.

What does this imply for academia and industry?

They will have access to most/all of this suite for use in research/business.

Why are we doing it?

To address the needs of our customer* other beneficiaries and to facilitate technology development in the areas of advanced propulsion systems.

How are we doing it?

Mostly in-house source coding/developing with some specific outside expertise in both theory and numerical methods.

When will this be implemented?

Target date for release of “1.0” versions is the end of FY05 for 2 of the 5 tools and March 2006 for the other 3 tools.