Contingency Analysis for Low-thrust Missions (CALM)

Low-thrust spacecraft trajectory optimization consists of defining a nominal solution that obeys known constraints and minimizes the spacecraft propellant mass used. A major deficiency with these traditional methods is that it is difficult to incorporate missed thrust events, spacecraft failure modes, or other mission-specific anomalies in the mission planning phase. Such anomalies could include the spacecraft going into safe mode, missing a tracking pass from Earth, or experiencing an off-nominal operational state such as using the wrong thrusting power mode or a thruster firing malfunction. Experienced engineers use intuition and guesswork to arrive at solutions manually that are robust to failure modes, but this ad-hoc approach typically comes at the expense of the time it takes for trajectory optimization. There is currently no industry standard to account for anomalous activities or failure modes for low-thrust and dynamically sensitive missions. This solution aims to address this specific deficiency in the mission planning process. The proposed solution is named CALM or Contingency Analysis for Low-thrust Missions. In response to the 2023 NASA SBIR Phase II solicitation subtopic H9.03, Flight Dynamics and Navigation Technologies, Advanced Space, LLC proposes to develop a mission design and planning tool that uses operational algorithms to mitigate the impact of anomalies and missed thrust events for low-thrust and dynamically sensitive missions. The software tool is an extension of the Virtual Swarm Method (VSM) for low-thrust trajectory optimization to maximize the missed-thrust recovery margin. The tool will be used to generate a multitude of spacecraft trajectories simultaneously to determine the worst-case scenarios to account for margins in the mission design. The results will provide trajectories and thrust arcs from failure modes, inform mass and propellant margins, and contribute to mission risk analysis and mitigation. The proposed solution is a software tool that extends the Virtual Swarm Method for low-thrust trajectory optimization to maximize missed-thrust recovery margin. The tool generates a multitude of spacecraft trajectories simultaneously to determine the worst-case scenarios to account for margins in the mission design. The purpose of CALM is to reduce the need for extensive contingency analysis by mission designers by using an approach to account for and correct failure modes and off-nominal trajectory solutions. Complex mission designs can be analyzed end-to-end rapidly. CALM will be benchmarked against traditional mission design and trajectory optimization tools (e.g., Monte, Copernicus, GMAT) and validated against related missions with simulated data (e.g., DAWN, Psyche). The solution will be packaged as a program that will have an Application Programming Interface (API) accessible to any mission design tool. In future work, the algorithm can be parallelized onto Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) to determine the onboard spacecraft capabilities for autonomous trajectory correction.  The primary goals of Phase II are to mature the algorithm to interface in a Monte Carlo architecture and to demonstrate use on a GPU. The prototype ground software, V&V with Phase I results and analysis from the Monte-Carlo framework developed to support the ground segment will be presented and delivered to NASA. The features developed in Phase I will be matured to reduce the overall computational time so that ground segment applications (pre-launch Monte Carlos and operational maneuver design) and in-flight applications (rapid on-flight recovery design and re-optimization) are proven feasible for operational use.    Objective 1: Operate CALM in the loop of a Monte Carlo Simulation  Objective 2: Optimize the Computational Efficiency  Objective 3: Demonstrate Flight Capabilities    Proposed Deliverables  Advanced Space will deliver the following items as corresponding deliverables during Phase II:  Kickoff Meeting with all team members.   Quarterly Reports submitted every quarter through the Phase II effort will document technical progress and provide quantifiable details to determine quarterly success toward overall objectives.   A Final Report submitted after Phase II includes a summary of analyses conducted, supporting documentation, documented evidence of delivered TRL, and a high-level design summary for the proposed tool.  A prototype flight software demonstration of the tool.

Applications with NASA include interplanetary and deep-space science missions to enable low-thrust trajectory optimization at the mission planning stage. This also includes future low-cost missions to the Moon using Ballistic Lunar Transfers (BLTs) where fuel budgeting is paramount. Additionally, as Electric Propulsion gains market adoption for civil missions, highly efficient data collection is necessary to maximize mission lifespan and reduce mission risk.  This technology can be extended to the commercial satellite markets for coordinated constellations in high-Earth orbits and beyond to help the mission planning stage. Specifically, the team will target Missions of Opportunity (MOOs) with the external support of the technology. Additional benefits to non-NASA missions include the USGS Landsat, NSF satellites, and NOAA satellites. 

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