Initial Results for Preliminary Trajectory Design of Multi-Target Active Debris Removal Missions using the Atom Solver

Active Debris Removal is a burgeoning field of research that has recently gained prominence due to on-orbit collision events, e.g., the 2009 Iridium-Cosmos collision, and studies suggesting action must be undertaken to guarantee the sustainability of the near-Earth space environment. We present initial results obtained from computing and analyzing high-thrust, debris-to-debris, transfer trajectories using the Accurate Transfer Orbit Model (Atom) solver. We outline the theory behind the Atom solver, which accounts for perturbations around the Earth by employing the SGP4/SDP4 propagator, to solve the perturbed Lambert problem. The results are contrasted against those obtained using the classical Lambert problem solver. This paper serves as a first step in establishing a framework for preliminary trajectory design of Multi-Target Active Debris Removal (MTADR) missions using the Atom solver.