A Computer Program for Interplanetary Gravity-Assist

Trajectory Design and Optimization

This document describes a Windows compatible Fortran computer program called flyby_ftn
that can be used to design and optimize interplanetary trajectories that include a single gravity
assist maneuver. The user specifies the launch, flyby and destination planets, and the desired
flyby altitude. The algorithm also requires initial guesses for the launch, flyby and arrival
calendar dates along with lower and upper search bounds about these dates. This script searches
for a patched-conic gravity-assist trajectory that satisfies the flyby mission constraints (V
matching and user-defined flyby altitude) and minimizes the launch, arrival or total impulsive
delta-v for the mission. The type of delta-v optimization is specified by the user.

The planet positions and velocities are modeled using the JPL DE 421 ephemeris. The trajectory
optimization is performed with a nonlinear programming (NLP) algorithm.

Program execution

An input file created by the user can be run from the command line or a simple batch file with a
statement similar to the following:

flyby_ftn evm.in

If the software is executed without an input file on the command line, the computer program will
display the following prompt:

***********************************
* program flyby_ftn *
* *
* gravity-assist trajectory *
* design & optimization *
* *
* July 9, 2011 *
***********************************

please input the name of the simulation definition file

At this point the user should input the name of a valid input file, including the filename
extension.

Input file format and contents

This section describes a typical input data file for the software. In the following discussion the
actual input file contents are in courier font and all explanations are in times italic font.

Each data item within an input file is preceded by one or more lines of annotation text. Do not
delete any of these annotation lines or increase or decrease the number of lines reserved for each
comment. However, you may change them to reflect your own explanation. The annotation line
also includes the correct units and when appropriate, the valid range of the input.

page 1
The time scale for all calculations is Barycentric Dynamical Time (TDB). The heliocentric
trajectory characteristics and impulsive delta-v maneuvers are displayed in the Earth mean
equator and equinox of J2000 (EME2000) coordinate system.

The software allows the user to specify an initial guess for the launch, flyby and arrival calendar
dates, and lower and upper bounds on the actual launch, flyby and arrival calendar dates found
during the optimization process. For any guess for launch time tL and user-defined launch time
lower and upper bounds tl and tu , the launch time t is constrained as follows:

tL  tl  t  tL  tu

Likewise, for any guess for arrival time t A and user-defined arrival time bounds tl and tu , the
arrival time t is constrained as follows:

t A  tl  t  t A  tu

For fixed launch, flyby or arrival times, the lower and upper bounds should be set to 1.0d-4.

The first six lines of any input file are reserved for user comments. These lines are ignored by the
software. However the input file must begin with six and only six initial text lines.

*****************************************************
gravity-assist interplanetary trajectory optimization
patched-conic heliocentric motion
Earth-to-Venus-to-Mars - evm.in
July 7, 2011
*****************************************************

The first numeric input for the program is an integer that specifies the type of optimization.
*******************
* simulation type *
*******************
1 = minimize launch delta-v
2 = minimize arrival delta-v
3 = minimize total delta-v
4 = no optimization
--------------------
3

The next input is the user’s guess for the departure calendar date. Please be sure to include all
four digits of the calendar year.
launch calendar date initial guess (month, day, year)
2,1,2009

The next two inputs are the lower and upper bounds, in days, for the departure date search.
launch calendar date search boundary (days)
-30, +30

page 2
The next input is the user’s guess for the flyby calendar date. Please be sure to include all four
digits of the calendar year.
flyby calendar date initial guess (month, day, year)
6,1,2009

The next two inputs are the lower and upper bounds, in days, for the flyby date search.
flyby calendar date search boundary (days)
-30, +30

The next input is the user’s guess for the arrival calendar date. Please be sure to include all four
digits of the calendar year.
arrival calendar date initial guess (month, day, year)
2,1,2010

The next two inputs are the lower and upper bounds, in days, for the arrival date search.
arrival calendar date search boundary (days)
-30, +30

The next input is an integer that specifies the departure planet.

*****************
* launch planet *
*****************
1 = Mercury
2 = Venus
3 = Earth
4 = Mars
5 = Jupiter
6 = Saturn
7 = Uranus
8 = Neptune
9 = Pluto
----------
3

The next input is an integer that specifies the flyby planet.

****************
* flyby planet *
****************
1 = Mercury
2 = Venus
3 = Earth
4 = Mars
5 = Jupiter
6 = Saturn
7 = Uranus
8 = Neptune
9 = Pluto
----------
2

page 3
The next input is an integer that specifies the arrival planet.
******************
* arrival planet *
******************
1 = Mercury
2 = Venus
3 = Earth
4 = Mars
5 = Jupiter
6 = Saturn
7 = Uranus
8 = Neptune
9 = Pluto
----------
4

The final input is the flyby altitude in kilometers relative to a spherical flyby planet.
flyby altitude (kilometers)
500.0

Optimal solution and trajectory graphics

This section summarizes the program output for this example. The software provides the
heliocentric orbital elements of each leg of the transfer trajectory in the Earth mean equator and
equinox of J2000 (EME2000) coordinate system. These numerical results also include the
characteristics of the hyperbolic flyby trajectory with respect to the flyby planet. The time scale
is Barycentric Dynamical Time (TDB).
program flyby_ftn - gravity assist mission design
-------------------------------------------------

minimize total delta-v

departure heliocentric delta-v vector and magnitude

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

x-component of delta-v 3598.24035154893 meters/second

y-component of delta-v 1526.93770964846 meters/second
z-component of delta-v -3792.12723773121 meters/second

delta-v magnitude 5446.01702015376 meters/second

arrival heliocentric delta-v vector and magnitude

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

x-component of delta-v 3467.15304528438 meters/second

y-component of delta-v 2400.80348125792 meters/second
z-component of delta-v 217.796931272767 meters/second

delta-v magnitude 4222.84774747050 meters/second

heliocentric coordinates of the planet at departure

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

page 4
calendar date January 26, 2009

TDB time 22:44:21.928

TDB Julian date 2454858.44747602

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.100089454405D+01 0.174899272415D-01 0.234394540774D+02 0.104236677690D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.359996181294D+03 0.227664669431D+02 0.127003144633D+03 0.365747115494D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

-.886527405221D+08 0.107940450542D+09 0.467957155825D+08 0.147310177049D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

-.242850226911D+02 -.165579794390D+02 -.717952033578D+01 0.302568095222D+02

spacecraft heliocentric coordinates after the first impulse

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date January 26, 2009

TDB time 22:44:21.928

TDB Julian date 2454858.44747602

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.863336645113D+00 0.158375605757D+00 0.292823627828D+02 0.296004420616D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.346082844316D+03 0.203493455602D+03 0.139497876218D+03 0.293000721553D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

-.886527405221D+08 0.107940450542D+09 0.467957155825D+08 0.147310177049D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

-.206867823395D+02 -.150310417294D+02 -.109716475735D+02 0.278253882185D+02

spacecraft heliocentric coordinates prior to the flyby

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date June 2, 2009

TDB time 08:16:39.211

TDB Julian date 2454984.84489827

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.863336645113D+00 0.158375605757D+00 0.292823627828D+02 0.296004420616D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.346082844316D+03 0.960346943306D+01 0.305607890049D+03 0.293000721553D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

0.429730038403D+08 -.902137801931D+08 -.433080316325D+08 0.108907257791D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

0.345439853068D+02 0.104516815351D+02 0.103480641331D+02 0.375447333070D+02

spacecraft heliocentric coordinates after the flyby

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date June 2, 2009

page 5
TDB time 08:16:39.211

TDB Julian date 2454984.84489827

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.118238783620D+01 0.390747964969D+00 0.258617861262D+02 0.309963453473D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.358860016066D+03 0.344303310922D+03 0.294266764395D+03 0.469611103443D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

0.429730038403D+08 -.902137801931D+08 -.433080316325D+08 0.108907257791D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

0.363852838330D+02 0.170047690786D+02 0.859233580103D+01 0.410716360222D+02

heliocentric coordinates of planet at flyby

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date June 2, 2009

TDB time 08:16:39.211

TDB Julian date 2454984.84489827

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.723333437839D+00 0.679370756567D-02 0.244344598590D+02 0.124124181153D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.800589473200D+01 0.161859809291D+03 0.285983990443D+03 0.224701638719D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

0.429730038403D+08 -.902137801931D+08 -.433080316325D+08 0.108907257791D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

0.319383638516D+02 0.132357551609D+02 0.393396928832D+01 0.347954079521D+02

spacecraft heliocentric coordinates prior to the second impulse

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date January 14, 2010

TDB time 03:31:03.805

TDB Julian date 2455210.64657182

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.118238783620D+01 0.390747964969D+00 0.258617861262D+02 0.309963453473D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.358860016066D+03 0.173664986771D+03 0.123628440244D+03 0.469611103443D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

-.132024581776D+09 0.186260911912D+09 0.889988305319D+08 0.245039607687D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

-.160233550543D+02 -.779154356530D+01 -.393073497801D+01 0.182457319884D+02

spacecraft heliocentric coordinates after the second impulse

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date January 14, 2010

TDB time 03:31:03.805

page 6
TDB Julian date 2455210.64657182

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.152370504377D+01 0.933397005688D-01 0.246772651944D+02 0.333004380223D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.337002063896D+01 0.146545017614D+03 0.119549397837D+03 0.686989002160D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

-.132024581776D+09 0.186260911912D+09 0.889988305319D+08 0.245039607687D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

-.194905080996D+02 -.101923470466D+02 -.414853190928D+01 0.223824520841D+02

heliocentric coordinates of planet at arrival

(Earth mean equator and equinox of J2000)
-----------------------------------------

calendar date January 14, 2010

TDB time 03:31:03.805

TDB Julian date 2455210.64657182

sma (au) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

0.152370504377D+01 0.933397005688D-01 0.246772651944D+02 0.333004380223D+03

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg) period (days)

0.337002063896D+01 0.146545017614D+03 0.119549397837D+03 0.686989002160D+03

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

-.132024581776D+09 0.186260911912D+09 0.889988305319D+08 0.245039607687D+09

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

-.194905080996D+02 -.101923470466D+02 -.414853190928D+01 0.223824520841D+02

FLYBY CONDITIONS
================

planet-centered conditions at periapsis

(Earth mean equator and equinox J2000)
--------------------------------------

calendar date June 2, 2009

TDB time 08:16:39.211

TDB Julian date 2454984.84489827

sma (km) eccentricity inclination (deg) argper (deg)

-.583428694731D+04 0.212299927295D+01 0.613274298432D+02 0.165389846831D+02

raan (deg) true anomaly (deg) arglat (deg)

0.246196707707D+03 0.000000000000D+00 0.165389846831D+02

rx (km) ry (km) rz (km) rmag (km)

-.171616100410D+04 -.610772948478D+04 0.163640629395D+04 0.655190000001D+04

vx (kps) vy (kps) vz (kps) vmag (kps)

0.666631791450D+01 0.931001281116D+00 0.104660919993D+02 0.124436987934D+02

flyby altitude 500.000000006264 kilometers

incoming v-infinity 7461.96634943461 meters/second

outgoing v-infinity 7461.96634943497 meters/second

maximum turn angle 58.7923996498057 degrees

page 7
 actual turn angle 56.2025772021421 degrees

heliocentric delta-v 7029.64569466843 meters/second

max heliocentric delta-v 7326.58018700546 meters/second

planet-centered b-plane coordinates at flyby

(Earth mean equator and equinox J2000)
--------------------------------------

b-magnitude 10926.0570614626 kilometers

b dot r 3759.97924690740
b dot t 8102.74963612562
theta 24.8930655123715 degrees
vinf 7461.96634943461 meters/second
r-periapsis 6551.90000000626 kilometers
decl-asy 59.2685235143245 degrees
rasc-asy 313.103636244553 degrees

departure-to-flyby time 126.397422248963 days

flyby-to-arrival time 225.801673547830 days

total mission time 352.199095796794 days

The flyby_ftn computer program will also produce a comma-separated-variable (CSV) data
file named flyby.csv that contains important trajectory characteristics. An explanation of the
screen display and data file contents can be found in Appendix A.

The following graphs were produced using the contents of the flyby.csv data file for this
gravity assist example. The first plot is a north ecliptic view of the planetary orbits and the
heliocentric transfer trajectory in the EME2000 system.

page 8
This next plot illustrates the effect of the gravity assist on the heliocentric distance and orbital
inclination of the spacecraft’s trajectory.

This next plot illustrates the effect of the gravity assist on the heliocentric speed and semimajor
axis of the spacecraft’s trajectory.

page 9
Technical discussion

The computational steps used to create an initial guess for the spacecraft state, and the launch
and arrival delta-v characteristics are as follows:

(1) compute the state vector of the departure planet at the departure date initial guess
(2) compute the state vector of the flyby planet at the flyby date initial guess
(3) compute the state vector of the arrival planet at the arrival date initial guess
(4) solve Lambert's problem for the departure-to-flyby leg and determine the initial velocity
vector of this leg
(5) compute the launch delta-v vector from the launch planet’s velocity vector and the initial
velocity vector of the first leg of the transfer trajectory
(6) solve Lambert's problem for the second heliocentric leg and determine the initial and final
velocity vectors of the second leg
(7) compute the arrival delta-v vector from the arrival planet’s velocity vector and the final
velocity vector of the second leg of the transfer trajectory
(8) estimate the flyby incoming v-infinity vector from the flyby planet’s velocity vector and
the final velocity vector of the first leg of the transfer trajectory

Lambert’s Problem

Lambert’s problem is concerned with the determination of an orbit that passes between two
positions within a specified time-of-flight. This classic astrodynamic problem is also known as
the orbital two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP).

The time to traverse a trajectory depends only upon the length of the semimajor axis a of the
transfer trajectory, the sum ri  rf of the distances of the initial and final positions relative to a
central body, and the length c of the chord joining these two positions. This relationship can be
stated as follows:
tof  tof  ri  rf , c, a 

From the following form of Kepler’s equation

a3
t  t0   E  e sin E 


we can write

page 10
 a3
t  E  E0  e  sin E  sin E0 
 

where E is the eccentric anomaly associated with radius r, E0 is the eccentric anomaly at r0 , and
t  0 when r  r0 .

At this point we need to introduce the following trigonometric sun and difference identities:

 a
sin   sin   2sin cos
2 2
 a
cos   cos   2sin sin
2 2
 a
cos   cos   2 cos cos
2 2

If we let E   and E0   and substitute the first trig identity into the second equation above,
we have the following equation:

a3  E  E0  E  E0  
t  E  E0  2sin  e cos 
  2  2 

With the two substitutions given by

E  E0 
e cos  cos
2 2
E  E0 
sin  sin
2 2

the time equation becomes

a3   
t      2sin cos 
 2 2 

From the elliptic relationships given by

r  a 1  e cos E 

x  a  cos E  e 

y  a sin E 1  e 2

page 11
and some more manipulation, we have the following equations:

 r  r0  c r  r0  c s
cos    1    1  1
 2a  2a 2a a

 r  r0  c r  r0  c sc
sin    1    1  1
 2 a  2a 2a a

This part of the derivation makes use of the following three relationships:

  r  r0
cos cos  1
2 2 2

  E  E0 E  E0 
2

sin sin  sin 1   e cos 
2 2 2  2 

       x  x0   y  y0   c 
2 2 2 2

 sin sin       
 2 2   2a   2a   2a 

With the use of the half angle formulas given by

 s  sc
sin  sin 
2 2a 2 2a

and several additional substitutions, we have the time-of-flight form of Lambert’s theorem

a3
t       sin   sin  
 

A discussion about the angles  and  can be found in “Geometrical Interpretation of the
Angles  and  in Lambert’s Problem” by J. E. Prussing, AIAA Journal of Guidance and
Control, Volume 2, Number 5, Sept.-Oct. 1979, pages 442-443.

The algorithm used in this Fortran computer program is based on the method described in “A
Procedure for the Solution of Lambert’s Orbital Boundary-Value Problem” by R. H. Gooding,
Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy 48: 145-165, 1990. This iterative solution is
valid for elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic transfer orbits which may be either posigrade or
retrograde, and involve one or more revolutions about the central body.

In this computer program, the spacecraft’s heliocentric trajectory is modeled as two-body,

Keplerian motion. The equations of motion include only the point-mass gravity of the sun.

page 12
Gravity-assist flight mechanics

The vector relationships between the incoming v-infinity vector v  , the outgoing v-infinity
vector v  and the two legs of the heliocentric transfer orbit are as follows:

v   v f b  v to1

v   v to2  v f b
where

v f b  heliocentric velocity vector of the flyby planet at the flyby date

v to1  heliocentric velocity vector of the first transfer orbit at the flyby date
v to2  heliocentric velocity vector of the second transfer orbit at the flyby date

The turn angle of the planet-centered trajectory during the flyby is determined from

1 1  v   v  
 
  1 
   sin  2sin 1 
 1  rp v /  
2 2  v v 
 

2

 

where rp is the periapsis radius of the flyby hyperbola, v is the magnitude of the incoming (or
outgoing) v-infinity vector and  is the gravitational constant of the flyby planet.

The maximum turn angle possible during a gravity assist flyby occurs when the spacecraft just
gazes the planet’s surface. It is given by

 1 
 max  2sin 1  
 1  rs v /  
2

where rs is the radius of the flyby planet. The semimajor axis and orbital eccentricity of the
flyby hyperbola are given by
a    / v     / v 
2 2

rp rp v2
e  1/ cos   1   1
a 

where   is the true anomaly at infinity which is determined from the following expression:

page 13
 1 1  v   v  
 

    sin
2 2  v  v  
 

The periapsis radius of the flyby hyperbola is determined from the expression r  a 1  e  and
the flyby altitude is h  r  rp .

The heliocentric speed gained during the flyby and the heliocentric delta-v vector caused by the
close encounter can be determined from the following two equations:

v fb  2v / e

v fb  v h  v h

where e is the orbital eccentricity of the hyperbolic flyby trajectory.

In the second equation v h is the heliocentric velocity vector of the spacecraft prior to the flyby
and v h is the heliocentric velocity vector after the flyby. For any planet it can be shown that the
maximum heliocentric delta-v possible is given by the expression


vmax 
rs

This corresponds to a “grazing” flyby at the planet’s surface and is equal to the “local circular
velocity” for the flyby planet at the surface.

During the optimization analysis, the software enforces the following two nonlinear equality
point constraints:
v   v   0
h f b  ht  0

The first equation is the v-infinity matching constraint and the second equation is the (positive)
flyby altitude constraint. In the second expression h f b is the actual flyby altitude and ht is the
user-defined or “targeted” flyby altitude.

The B-plane

The derivation of B-plane coordinates is described in the classic JPL reports, “A Method of
Describing Miss Distances for Lunar and Interplanetary Trajectories” and “Some Orbital
Elements Useful in Space Trajectory Calculations”, both by William Kizner. The following
diagram illustrates the fundamental geometry of the B-plane coordinate system.

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The arrival asymptote unit vector Ŝ is given by

cos   cos   
ˆS   cos  sin  
 
 sin  
  

where   and   are the declination and right ascension of the asymptote of the incoming or
outgoing hyperbola.

The following computational steps summarize the calculation of the B-plane vector from a
planet-centered position vector r and velocity vector v at closest approach to the flyby planet.

angular momentum vector

h rv

radius rate
r v
r 
r

semiparameter
h2
p


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semimajor axis
r
a
 r v2 
 
 
2


orbital eccentricity
e  1 p a

true anomaly
pr r h
cos   sin  
er e

B-plane magnitude
B pa

fundamental vectors
r v  r r
zˆ 
h

pˆ  cos  rˆ  sin  zˆ

qˆ  sin  rˆ  cos  zˆ

S vector
a b
S pˆ  qˆ
a 2  b2 a 2  b2

B vector
b2 ab
B pˆ  qˆ
a b
2 2
a  b2
2

T vector
S ,  S x2 ,0 
2 T

T
y

S x2  S y2

R vector
R  S  T    S zTy , S zTx , S xTy  S yTx 
T

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References and bibliography

“Gravity-Assist Trajectory Design with MATLAB”, C. David Eagle, AAS 99-138, AAS/AIAA
Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Breckenridge, CO, February 7-10, 1999.

“Optimal Interplanetary Orbit Transfers by Direct Transcription”, John T. Betts, The Journal of
the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 42, No. 3, July-September 1994, pp. 247-268.

“Multiple Gravity Assist Interplanetary Trajectories”, A. V. Labunsky, O. V. Papkov, and K. G.

Sukhanov, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1998.

“Modern Astrodynamics”, Victor R. Bond and Mark C. Allman, Princeton University Press,
1996.

“Automated Design of Gravity-Assist Trajectories to Mars and the Outer Planets”, J.M.
Longuski and S.N. Williams, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 52: 207-220,
1991.

“Gravitational Assist in Celestial Mechanics – A Tutorial”, J. A. Van Allen, American Journal of

Physics, 71 (5), May 2003.

“Notes for the Gravitational Assisted Trajectories Lectures”, E. Barrabes, G. Gomez, and J.
Rodriquez-Canabal, Advanced Topics in Astrodynamics Summer Course, Barcelona, July 2004.

page 17
 APPENDIX A
Contents of the Simulation Summary and CSV Data File

This appendix is a brief summary of the information contained in the simulation summary screen
displays and the comma-separated-variable (csv) data file produced by the flyby_ftn software.

The simulation summary screen display contains the following information:

calendar date = calendar date of trajectory event

TDB time = TDB time of trajectory event

TDB julian date = julian date of trajectory event on TDB time scale

sma (au) = semimajor axis in astronomical unit

eccentricity = orbital eccentricity (non-dimensional)

inclination (deg) = orbital inclination in degrees

argper (deg) = argument of periapsis in degrees

raan (deg) = right ascension of the ascending node in degrees

true anomaly (deg) = true anomaly in degrees

arglat (deg) = argument of latitude in degrees. The argument of latitude is

the sum of true anomaly and argument of perigee.

period (days) = orbital period in days

rx (km) = x-component of the spacecraft’s position vector in kilometers

ry (km) = y-component of the spacecraft’s position vector in kilometers

rz (km) = z-component of the spacecraft’s position vector in kilometers

rmag (km) = scalar magnitude of the spacecraft’s position vector in kilometers

vx (kps) = x-component of the spacecraft’s velocity vector in kilometers per

second

vy (kps) = y-component of the spacecraft’s velocity vector in kilometers per

second

vz (ksp) = z-component of the spacecraft’s velocity vector in kilometers per

second

vmag (kps) = scalar magnitude of the spacecraft’s velocity vector in

kilometers per second

b-magnitude = magnitude of the b-plane vector

b dot r = dot product of the b-vector and r-vector

b dot t = dot product of the b-vector and t-vector

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 theta = orientation of the b-plane vector in degrees

v-infinity = magnitude of incoming v-infinity vector in kilometers/second

r-periapsis = periapsis radius of incoming hyperbola in kilometers

decl-asy = declination of incoming v-infinity vector in degrees

rasc-asy = right ascension of incoming v-infinity vector in degrees

The flyby.csv disk file contains the following information:

time (days) = simulation time since departure in days

rs2sc-x (au) = x-component of the spacecraft’s heliocentric position vector in

astronomical units

rs2sc-y (au) = y-component of the spacecraft’s heliocentric position vector in

astronomical units

rs2sc-z (au) = z-component of the spacecraft’s heliocentric position vector in

astronomical units

rs2sc-mag (au) = the spacecraft’s heliocentric radius in astronomical units

vs2sc-y (km/sec) = y-component of the spacecraft’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2sc-z (km/sec) = z-component of the spacecraft’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2sc-mag (km/sec) = the spacecraft’s heliocentric speed in astronomical units

per day

rs2p1-x (au) = x-component of the departure planet’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units

rs2p1-y (au) = y-component of the departure planet’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units

rs2p1-z (au) = z-component of the departure planet’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units

rs2p1-mag (au) = departure planet heliocentric radius in astronomical units

vs2p1-x (au) = x-component of the departure planet’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2p1-y (au) = y-component of the departure planet’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2p1-z (au) = z-component of the departure palnet’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2p1-mag (au) = departure planet’s heliocentric speed in astronomical units

per day
rs2p2-x (au) = x-component of the flyby planet’s heliocentric position vector
in astronomical units

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rs2p2-y (au) = y-component of the flyby planet’s heliocentric position vector
in astronomical units

rs2p2-z (au) = z-component of the flyby planet’s heliocentric position vector

in astronomical units

rs2p2-mag (au) = flyby planet heliocentric radius in astronomical units

vs2p2-x (au) = x-component of the flyby planet’s heliocentric velocity vector

in astronomical units per day

vs2p2-y (au) = y-component of the flyby planet’s heliocentric velocity vector

in astronomical units per day

vs2p2-z (au) = z-component of the flyby planet’s heliocentric velocity vector

in astronomical units per day

vs2p2-mag (au) = flyby planet heliocentric speed in astronomical units per day

rs2p3-x (au) = x-component of the arrival planet’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units

rs2p3-y (au) = y-component of the arrival planet’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units

rs2p3-z (au) = z-component of the arrival planet’s heliocentric position

vector in astronomical units

rs2p3-mag (au) = arrival planet heliocentric radius in astronomical units

vs2p3-x (au) = x-component of the arrival planet’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2p3-y (au) = y-component of the arrival planet’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2p3-z (au) = z-component of the arrival planet’s heliocentric velocity

vector in astronomical units per day

vs2p3-mag (au) = arrival planet heliocentric speed in astronomical units per

day

sma-heo (au) = heliocentric semimajor axis of the spacecraft in astronomical

units

ecc-heo = heliocentric orbital eccentricity of the spacecraft(non-dimensional)

inc-heo (deg) = heliocentric orbital inclination of the spacecraft in degrees

argper-heo (deg) = heliocentric argument of perigee of the spacecraft in

degrees

raan-heo (deg) = heliocentric right ascension of the ascending node of the

spacecraft in degrees

tanom-heo (deg) = heliocentric true anomaly of the spacecraft in degrees

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