Interplanetary pit stops: Harnessing asteroids as solar filling stations for Earth-to-Mars missions

• Published in: Acta astronautica Vol. 228; pp. 515 - 526
• Main Authors: Lopez, Francesco, Conte, Davide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2025
• Subjects: Asteroidal ISRU; Circular restricted three-body problem; Distant retrograde orbits; Earth–Mars missions; Particle swarm optimization; Refueling on asteroids; Trajectory design; Refueling on asteroids; Earth–Mars missions; Circular restricted three-body problem; Distant retrograde orbits; Asteroidal ISRU; Trajectory design; Particle swarm optimization
• ISSN: 0094-5765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.12.009

This paper studies Earth–Mars missions that utilize asteroid candidates as intermediate stops to perform in-situ resource utilization refueling and minimize overall spacecraft launch mass from Earth. The first leg of the trajectory intercepts one such asteroid candidate, where the spacecraft performs an insertion into a Sun–asteroid distant retrograde orbit. After refueling, the spacecraft transfers from the asteroid to Mars. While heliocentric orbital transfers are computed using Lambert’s problem, particle swarm optimization and dynamical systems theory are used to compute the proposed Sun–asteroid distant retrograde orbit and to determine the ΔV-optimal trajectories to approach and land onto the asteroid. The selection process for candidate asteroids narrows down from over a million possibilities to 94 asteroids based on specific orbital parameters. Significant ΔV savings and mission cost reductions are demonstrated through strategic asteroid selection. A double-arc trajectory model between Earth, an asteroid, and Mars is outlined, addressing computational challenges by dividing the problem into subdomains. The development of Sun–asteroid distant retrograde orbit families and the optimization of landing trajectories on selected asteroids using particle swarm optimization highlight the feasibility and advantages of asteroid-based refueling stations for sustainable space exploration. •Earth–Mars missions can use asteroids for ISRU refueling to minimize launch mass.•Dynamical systems theory is used for optimal asteroid approach and refueling.•At least 94 candidate asteroids exist for multiple Earth–Mars roundtrip ISRU.•Sun–asteroid distant retrograde orbits are optimal for asteroid ISRU parking orbits.