Determination and Analysis of Possible Flight Schemes to Sedna in 2029–2037
摘要
The trans-Neptunian object (90,377) Sedna discovered in 2004 is probably related to the Oort Cloud since its orbit’s aphelion is estimated to be about one thousand AU and the orbital period of about 11 thousand years. In 2074–75 Sedna will be in the vicinity of its perihelion at a distance of about 74 AU. That provides a unique chance to study this object from a close distance. This research is devoted to the determination and analysis of trajectories to Sedna in launch windows within the 2029–2037 period. The analysis was carried out in the patched conic model where the whole trajectory to Sedna is separated to the planetocentric and heliocentric arcs. Heliocentric arcs are determined by solution of the Lambert problem. All deep space maneuvers are assumed as impulsive ones. A direct flight seems to be impossible since it takes too much time and high characteristic velocity (∆V) to reach Sedna. The flight schemes including gravity assist maneuvers suggested in the research can reduce the required ∆V. Gravity assists of Venus, Earth and giant planets are taken into account. It is shown that for launch windows in the considered time interval the use of the Venus, Earth, and Jupiter gravity assists can significantly reduce the value of the total ∆V required to reach Sedna with the time of flight limited by 50 years. The possibility of reducing the ∆V with help of the Neptune and Saturn gravity assists has been analysed.