The Application of Dynamic Programming to Orbit Transfer Processes

摘要

Dynamic programming is described as the mathematical theory of multistage decision processes and orbit transfer processes are considered multistage decision processes. The state variables of an orbit transfer process at any instant of time can be represented by the vehicle's position and velocity components or some related set of parameters. The decision at any instant of time can be represented by the rocket thrust vector or the vehicle acceleration vector that it produces. Dynamic programming is shown to provide a method of choosing the decision vector so that the state variables follow as closely as possible some prescribed behavior.