Advances in Ballistic Capture Orbits Computation with Applications

In this paper, recent developments on the computation of ballistic capture orbits are discussed, together with a presentation on their applications to practical cases. The paper focuses on the method used to derive the stable sets. These are sets of initial conditions that generate orbits satisfying a simple definition of stability, whose manipulation produces ballistic capture orbits. The way this method has evolved over the years will be illustrated, from the simple planar circular restricted three-body model to a three-dimensional high-fidelity context. Applications involve interplanetary trajectory design, lunar missions, and asteroid retrieval scenarios.