LUNAR ORBIT VS. LIBRATION POINT AND LUNAR SURFACE RENDEZVOUS METHODOLOGIES FOR HUMAN LUNAR MISSIONS

摘要

For some four decades, the Apollo-style lunar orbit rendezvous mission has been a proven and well-known technique for transferring human crews to the Moon. This approach provides a good design for short missions, but has limited flexibility with respect to landing site access. This study compares the characteristics of lunar orbit rendezvous trajectory profiles with those employing the cislunar Earth-Moon libration point (L_1) as a stopover and staging point for missions to the lunar surface, as well as a type that involves rendezvous on that surface itself. In particular, it contrasts the relative consistency of performance cost for the latter types with the varying costs associated with lunar orbit rendezvous profiles subjected to similar mission constraints and requirements.