OPTIMIZATION TOOLBOX FOR RAPID COMET-I TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS Miguel Rebelo, an MAE student, is passionate about space exploration, astrodynamics, and scientific software development. As a Space Systems major student, he had the opportunity to conduct a research project on the possibility of observing and studying a comet as soon as it enters in the Solar System by deploying a space probe at the right place. Supervised by the DCAS* department and members of Comet Interceptor Mission of the European Space agency (ESA), this research project is directly linked to one of the ESA’s missions which consists in performing a fly-by around a yet-tobe-discovered comet that is due to be launched in 2029. Let’s explain the context: Comets have amazing scientific potential since they preserve traces of the first moments of the formation of the solar system. Comets such as Halley have already performed multiple visits and, because of their interaction with the Sun, their morphology and chemical composition have been modified significantly. It is thus of great interest to observe a comet which has never passed through the solar system since its formation. By definition, we don’t know a priori where these comets are right now. Moreover, they are currently only discovered approximately 5 years before they pass through the solar system, which is an unfeasible amount of time to design and launch a mission. Because of this, Comet Interceptor will be placed at the Sun-Earth Lagrange L2 point (like the JamesWebb Space Telescope). It will wait there until a newcomet is discovered andwill then depart and meet it as it is passing by the solar system, providing some undoubtedly groundbreaking science. Based on this project, Miguel’s mission was to streamline and expand the tools provided by his Professor, which are used to conduct mission analysis. More specifically, he worked on the trajectory optimization between the Lagrange L2 point and the intercept point, with the aim of obtaining a trajectory which suits the fuel budget and the scientific constraints of the mission. The project involved some theory in astrodynamics which he then implemented in MatLab. According to Miguel, the best part of this project is the opportunity it provides to personally contribute to the analysis and the planning of a future ESA mission: “It felt (and feels) absolutely surreal!” His work has been integrated into the activities of the mission’s Science Working Team and it expanded the capabilities for trajectory design and mission analysis. Avaluable tool for the researchers working on this amazing mission! For his 4th semester Internship, Miguel is working at CNES* on mission analysis for the CubeSats of ESA’s Hera mission. Indeed, his research project reinforced his desire to pursue a career in Space and its related fields and has taught him a lot of key knowledge for his future career. *DCAS : Department of Aerospace Vehicles Design and Control *CNES : National Centre for Space Studies Did you know that a comet can only be discovered 5 years before it passes through the Solar system? How Science finds efficient solutions to study comets and understand their past and evolution. Credits: Snodgrass, C., Jones, G.H. The European Space Agency’s Comet Interceptor lies in wait. Nat Commun 10, 5418 (2019). / 15 /
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