Earth-Pluto Interplanetary Trajectory Design and Orbital Analysis on the Pluto-Charon System

Sung Jun Kim and Arthur Melo Cruz

This project introduces the method of designing an interplanetary mission to Pluto and exhibits the near-future mission design. It determines the possible launch dates and the corresponding arrival dates to reach Pluto with the gravity assist at Jupiter. Also, it analyzes the orbit at Pluto-Charon system where Charon, one of the moons around Pluto, perturbs the spacecraft’s trajectory by its gravitational potential.

Major: 
Aerospace Engineering
Exhibition Category: 
Engineering
Exhibition Format: 
Poster Presentation
Campus: 
University Park
Faculty Sponsor: 
Puneet Singla, Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Poster Number: 
279