Software Suite for Satellite Control in Lunar Orbit Developed at Samara University

A young Chinese scientist, Du Chunrui, has developed a software suite at Samara University named after Korolev for controlling satellites in lunar orbit.

«Currently, many countries are developing the concept of a lunar space station – LSS. Such a station can be used as a base platform for exploring the Moon, other planets, as well as for studying problems that may arise during long-term human flights into deep space. The program I developed will effectively control the movement of spacecraft in lunar orbit, calculating the optimal options for their movement between different orbits», – said Du Chunrui.

The scientist noted that the program will allow for more efficient changes to the working orbits of satellites, which ultimately leads to fuel savings for spacecraft engines and an increase in the operating time of satellite systems.

The novelty of the project is that the software suite calculates the flights of spacecraft not around the Moon, but in lunar orbit, around Lagrange points or libration points.

«The fact is that orbits around Lagrange points are much more stable and reliable, and it is better to use them for placing satellite constellations in lunar orbit than unstable orbits around the Moon. The trajectory of a satellite flying around the Moon will be constantly distorted, and the engines will have to be turned on from time to time to correct the orbit, that is, the fuel and service life of such a satellite will end much faster than, say, its near-Earth \"colleague\"», – said Du Chunrui's scientific supervisor, Head of the Department of Flight Dynamics and Control Systems of Samara University, Olga Starinova.