A novel algorithm for optimal design of impulsive orbit transfer using multi-phase Gauss pseudospectral method

A Gauss pseudospectral method (GPM) is presented for directly solving impulsive orbit transfer problem. The Gauss pseudospectral method is applied to the multi-phase optimal control problem; the model of multi-phase control linkage conditions and more flexible solving strategy are also presented. Two typical orbit transfer problems are studied, the simulation results are compared with the available numerical prediction, and show good accuracy, rapid convergence(time consumption is several seconds), robustness with initial guess, which means that the GPM can used to generate an optimal impulsive orbit transfer trajectory through the onboard computer.