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Nick Biggerstaff and Chris Van Horn
University of Missouri Columbia
Advisor: Craig A. Kluever
Abstract
A new program has been created to increase the accuracy of simple, low-thrust (LT) orbit transfer studies, while also keeping actual runtime to a minimum. This program parallels very closely SEPSPOT4 in accuracy, varying in the results ±5%. This program, like SEPSPOT, also uses orbital averaging to cut down on runtime. Orbital averaging1 allows the program to treat each orbit as a single entity, because with Electric-Propulsion, each orbit varies so slightly from the previous and following orbit that iterating each individual time step is simply not efficient for time. Each trial ran with this program uses many different performance parameters, which all end up within the bounds of 5% error. These different constraints are mass, which can be directly correlated to mass ratio, semi-major axis, time of flight, final eccentricity, and final inclination. As this program can get extremely accurate results in a minimal runtime, it is very beneficial to use while running multiple case studies with varying parameters.
Nick Biggerstaff is a senior at the University of Missouri Columbia, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with an aerospace emphasis. Nick grew up in Independence, Missouri and has had an interest in engineering since an early age. He will graduate with honors in mechanical engineering in December of 2008. During his time at the university he was fortunate to have been able to participate in several engineering programs and clubs. With MU's student branch of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), he is the payload team leader for a student built rocket competing in the ESRA (Experimental Sounding Rocket Association) 2008 competition. They are in the process of constructing a rocket that will carry a ten pound payload to 10,000 ft. Nick is also fundraising chair of MU's student branch of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). Nick has a great interest in mechanical design, as well as controls, and hopes to work with NASA in the future and engineer devices for space applications.
Chris Van Horn is from Independence, Missouri and is currently a senior at the University of Missouri-Columbia. At MU, Chris will be receiving a degree in Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace emphasis, a minor in Mathematics, and will be graduating with honors. Chris has been in a variety of groups and clubs, such as the MU chapter of AIAA, ASME, and Honors fraternity: Phi Sigma Pi. Chris' current career goal is to move to Austin to start full time work, and hopefully receive a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at UT. Chris eventually plans to get heavily into the aerospace field, once the economy is ready for that again
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