Mon., Oct. 6, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. James Woodburn, AGI technical director/chief orbital scientist

With the announcement by several worldwide space agencies to pursue robotic and human lunar missions, the interest in lunar transfer trajectory and lunar orbit analysis is increasing. Some of the techniques used to design, study, and operate lunar missions have evolved significantly since the Apollo era due to model improvement and understanding, as well as the tremendous increase in computer speed.

In addition to trajectory planners and navigators, many other spacecraft engineers, payload specialists, and scientists are interested in the principles of lunar orbit design because of the impact on their systems. Many of the techniques presented will be useful for other types of missions as well, such as low-Earth, geosynchronous, and Libration point.

Course Content and Objectives
The objective of the workshop is to provide participants with a solid foundation of the principles of the design and operation of lunar missions. Workshop participants will be exposed to the fundamentals of lunar mission design, including:

• Launch, parking orbit, and trans-lunar injection modeling
• Transfer trajectory design and B-plane targeting
• Earth rendezvous
• Lunar orbit insertion (LOI)
• Frozen and other lunar orbits
• Model transition between phases of the mission
• Lunar landing
• Lunar ascent
• Proximity operations and rendezvous
• Lunar departure/Earth return

• Orbit determination accuracy
• Maneuver calibration
• Operational orbit recovery after maneuvers

Prerequisites
Workshop participants should have a basic working knowledge of fundamental orbital mechanics and orbital maneuvers.

Tools
Exercises will be performed using the STK/Astrogator mission planning tool. Prior experience with STK/Astrogator is not required. All necessary hardware and software will be provided.

Registration
Registration for the workshop is in conjunction with main conference registration.

To register for the workshop only, please call the AGI Events Hotline at 1.610.981.8025.