An approximate method for nonlinear ordinary differential equations
tions. For optimality, it can be shown that it is necessary that VH be directed in the direction of the initial primer vector, A(0). A simple procedure to allow variations in vh follows: 1) Determine the optimum impulsive trajectory for vh = 0. The initial velocity v(0) = vd(0), the orbital velocity of the departure planet. 2) Solve the impulsive adjoint equations and the ATOM matrix equations. (Analytic solutions for both are known.) 3) Optimize aQ and vy-. 4) Compute the finite thrust value of X(0). 5) Based on the magnitude of A(0), estimate the optimal value of vh. 6) Consider the initial velocity to be t;(0) = Vd(0) + . 7) Return to step 2 and repeat until convergence is obtained. References