Dynamics of weak stability boundary transfer trajectories to Moon

In order to design a WSB trajectory to Moon, highly elliptical geocentric orbit is propagated forward in time so that its perigee increases to Earth-Moon distance. Another highly elliptical selenocentric orbit is propagated backward in time till it starts moving towards Earth. The two trajectories are patched using Fixed Time of Arrival targeting method to obtain a WSB transfer trajectory. In this paper, various geocentric and selenocentric orbits are considered and eligible candidates for WSB transfer are represented on the phase space with color code on transfer time. Genetic Algorithm is used to find patching points to reduce the sum of \(\Delta V\) required at the patching points. Lunar fly-by on the way to apogee is also studied.