Design of Earth-Moon Cyclers Using Primer Vector Theory

<p>The purpose of this study is to design orbits for transporting passengers and cargo regularly from the Earth to the Moon and back. To accomplish this, so-called “<i>cycler orbits</i>” are used. A cycler orbit is an orbit circulating regularly between two astronomical bodies and can be achieved through gravity-assist swingbys. This study consists of two steps. The first step exploits the mechanics of the “<i>double lunar swingby</i>” to realize a cycler orbit without expending propellant. The second step employs the primer vector theory to design low-cost transfer orbits and calculates the minimum fuel for the mission. The proposed method of this study can realize an Earth-Moon transportation system which operates every two months with a significantly lower cost than the previous method.</p>