Fueling the Future: Investigating Space Contested Logistics by Modeling Orbital Transfers

"Space maneuver without regret" describes an era where satellites have the ability to move, evade, and change orbits freely, without the historic constraints of fuel conservation or shortened operational lifespans. This work developed a test matrix to systematically outline the benefits and disadvantages of different maneuvers within various scenarios, considering factors such as fuel, fuel delivery to satellites, and initial orbital positions. We developed MATLAB and STK models to produce estimated fuel usage and timing values in order to support our conclusions.

Interns: Zoe Gorbachev, Londyn Sykes, Kelvin Zimmerman

Mentors: Dr. Christina Chu (NSAD/JAM), Trena Lilly (NSAD/JAM)