ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of studies on various schemes of interplanetary flights with gravity assist maneuvers. It deals with the application of the graphic-analytical method. The chapter is concerned with numerical investigations of some promising multi-purpose schemes of interplanetary spacecrafts and their design ballistic characteristics. It also presents the analysis of possible paths of the spacecraft flight in the solar system with flyby of a single planet or several planets. In each case, the results are compared with the nomographic estimates of a direct flight, which for any target planet, allows one to find out whether the gravity assist maneuvers can be included in the path. The problems of reaching distant planets–Uranus, Neptune, Pluto–require considerable energy, which makes it necessary for the designer to consider multiple-flyby schemes. A direct flight to Mercury, the planet nearest to the Sun, requires significant energy expenditure, which makes the designers favor paths involving gravity assist maneuvers.
