Study on the control strategy for low thrust low energy moon return

In this paper the low thrust propulsion control strategy of the low energy Moon return transfer is researched. By establishing the dynamical equations in the elliptical four body problem, the characteristics of the low energy moon return trajectory is analyzed and the whole returning mission is divided into two sections, the moon escaping and the return manifold injecting. In each of the section, the low thrust propulsion control strategy is designed with iteration method. From the simulation result, the low thrust low energy moon return method is of significant advantage in fuel consumption.