Optimisation experts challenged to set course of future missions
Space optimisation experts have been challenged to fine-tune the mission profile of various ESA mission concepts, including the 2020-launched Asteroid Impact Mission.
For any spacecraft traversing infinite space there are a multiplicity of possible mission paths – but some will be much more effective in achieving mission goals than others. Selecting the choice of maximum benefit is called optimisation – the subject of a dedicated workshop this September.
The Third European Optimisation in Space Engineering (OSE3) workshop will take place on Thursday 17th & Friday 18th September 2015 at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
A key feature of the programme is an optimisation challenge competition, where interested participants are invited to think about a trio of optimisation problems and try to solve one or more of them.
One of the three challenges that have been chosen this year is related to the Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM). The objective of this mission scenario challenge is to define the best strategy for the AIM spacecraft to map the complete binary system before the impact.
The main requirements for this mission are to minimise the time needed to complete the mapping while also minimising the fuel needed to perform all the manoeuvres. (Download the PDF of the challenges here.)
The other workshop challenges this year involve charting a course for ESA’s proposed e.Deorbit active space debris removal mission and the deployment and management of satellite constellations in orbit.
The competition was launched on June 8 and runs until August 3 2015. Participants are invited to share their latest optimisation engineering problems, proposed solutions and mathematical results, to promote the exchange of ideas and the identification of new trends and developments in space engineering.