Lambert Algorithm Using Analytic Gradients

Abstract

This paper proposes a new approach to solve Lambert's problem using analytic gradient information. The initial flight-path angle has been selected as an iterator variable, and the gradient of the transfer time with respect to the iterator variable has been derived using conditions for an orbital two-point boundary value problem for update of the flight-path angle at each iteration step. A comprehensive experimental study has been conducted to demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm. The study results indicate that the proposed algorithm converges in all problem instances generated in the experiments and its efficiency is comparable to that of one of the best published methodologies.