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Astronautics, Volume 1, Issue 2 (June 2026) – 2 articles

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22 pages, 792 KB  
Article
A Greedy Algorithm for Rocket TT&C Resource Scheduling in Flight-Style Launch Scenarios
by Lisong Hao, Taibo Li and Hongwei Liu
Astronautics 2026, 1(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/astronautics1020010 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 303
Abstract
In commercial aerospace flight-style launch scenarios, multiple parallel missions impose tight constraints, multiple objectives, and highly dynamic conditions on TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking, and Command) resource scheduling. This paper studies coordinated scheduling of TT&C equipment and sites. First, a multi-objective model is formulated that [...] Read more.
In commercial aerospace flight-style launch scenarios, multiple parallel missions impose tight constraints, multiple objectives, and highly dynamic conditions on TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking, and Command) resource scheduling. This paper studies coordinated scheduling of TT&C equipment and sites. First, a multi-objective model is formulated that considers equipment–type matching, time-window constraints, mobile-equipment transfer paths, and coverage requirements. The model enforces coverage thresholds for all mission arc segments, while minimizing (i) the total travel distance of mobile equipment and (ii) the number of mobile units deployed. Second, to obtain high-quality feasible solutions quickly, an improved greedy scheduling algorithm is proposed. The algorithm processes tasks in chronological order and makes locally optimal decisions. It prioritizes fixed equipment and then selects mobile equipment by minimizing transfer distance under time-feasibility constraints. Finally, experiments on simulated scenarios demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The algorithm produces feasible schedules that satisfy coverage requirements in an extremely short time. It also provides a good initial solution for subsequent refinement, which makes it suitable for dynamic scheduling that requires real-time responsiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers on Spacecraft Dynamics and Control)
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32 pages, 2053 KB  
Review
Longer Flight, Less Fuel: Strategies for Low-Energy Planetary Trajectory Design and Optimization
by Wenchi Zhao, Jixin Ding, Xue Bai, Jun Jiang, Tao Nie and Ming Xu
Astronautics 2026, 1(2), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/astronautics1020009 - 7 Apr 2026
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Abstract
As a crucial initial step in humanity’s quest to explore deep space, lunar transfer missions have garnered significant attention. The escalating demand for increased payload capacity and mission flexibility have presented challenges in terms of mission fuel costs. In response, the design of [...] Read more.
As a crucial initial step in humanity’s quest to explore deep space, lunar transfer missions have garnered significant attention. The escalating demand for increased payload capacity and mission flexibility have presented challenges in terms of mission fuel costs. In response, the design of low-energy lunar transfer trajectories, rooted in multibody dynamics, has become paramount for deep space exploration trajectory design. This paper summarizes the design methods for transfer trajectories from the Earth to the Moon and even deeper space that consume low energy at the expense of expanded transfer time. The fundamental design methods include the weak stability boundary method, the chaos control method, and the invariant manifold theory, which are primarily determined by dynamical mechanisms. Additionally, the paper discusses the low-thrust technique, formulating trajectory design as an optimization problem to tailor thrust profiles for minimum fuel consumption. Finally, landmark missions are discussed to demonstrate the practical applications and advantages of low-energy trajectories, spanning lunar missions to exploration within deeper space regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers on Spacecraft Dynamics and Control)
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