James Heath

Aerospace Meng

Supervisor: Dr K Smith

Venutian Exploration Project

James.heath-2@student.manchester.ac.uk

Transfer

Purpose of Project

Diagram of transfer

(IPT) Hohmann Transfer

Venus
Earth
r2
V1

V2

Sun

Planet or body
concerned

This project concentrates on the transfer of a spacecraft from

Earth orbit to Venus orbit. Limitations of distance between earth
and Venus and positioning of the probe so that it can transmit data
back to Earth whilst in Venus atmosphere, give very specific mission requirements for the transfer and deployment of the probe.

The distance between earth

and Venus must be less than
100,000km on arrival and during data transmission.
The probe must be on the side
of Venus visible from earth during data transmission. There are
two solutions available shown
in case 1 and case2.

r1

Hyperbola Conic Section

Limitations

Earth *
Initial spacecraft orbit

Vearth
V1

y
r
o
t
c
e
j
a
r
T
nus

Hyperbolic conic sections are used to calculate the velocity eccentricity and trajectory of an entry or exit of
an S.O.I (Sphere of Influence)

e
V

h
t
r
Ea

Escape Velocity: V

Venus +

n
o
i
s
s
i
h
t
m
r
s
a
n
e
ra
o
T
t
a
e
t
b
a
o
D
r
p
Sun
m
o
fr

Balloon orbit
Satellite Orbit
Venus S.O.I

Earth S.O.I

Simulation and Coding

The calculations for patched

conics will be coded into
matlab, some key equations
and variables are shown on
the right. Vector values will be
input into the code which will
produce values and plot corresponding Pork Chop Plots.
Using the most favourable values the transfer will then be
modelled in STK to simulate a
successful mission.

V2

Equations:

Given that:

Planet
And vice versa for a capture

Vvenus

Probe & Deployment

The balloon probe will travel
around Venus using the
strong winds to move it. It
will collect atmospheric data
and transmit it back to earth
whilst it is still on the visible
section of Venus from Earth.

Separation of probe
from spacecraft

Deployment of

The balloon floats at a

balloon from parachute

varying altitude in Venus atmosphere and moves with

the strong winds

Launch Dates

Pork Chop Plot

Using patch conics, launch dates can be

calculated and pork chop plots can be
designed, to find the best design for the
transfer. Pork Chop Plots can be used to
compare many key fields against each
other to find the most desirable transfer
design.
http://www.cdeagle.com/interplanetary/porkchop.pdf

This is Pork Chop Plot

compares C3L
(Spacecraft energy level) against TOF (Time
of flight). This allows
the user to find the
best launch dates for
maximum efficiency
and also shortest TOF.