Speaker
Description
This research developed a model using a modified CR3BP framework with an additional artificial mass to locate and optimise artificial Lagrange points (L4/L5) in the Jupiter-Europa system, positioning a satellite to investigate Europa. The model evaluates potential system configurations across a parameterised grid of source positions (xA, yA) and the mass ratio of the Artificial mass to the Europa-Jupiter combination. Powell’s hybrid method was used to search for a stable Lagrangian point for Europa and the artificial mass. The satellite was given a small displacement perturbation and integrated over a time interval to verify whether its trajectory remains bounded. A massless spacecraft at position r experiences gravitational attraction from Jupiter, Europa, and the artificial source, balanced by centrifugal acceleration in the rotating reference frame. Static equilibrium points were defined using Powell's hybrid method.
Foundational search & single-grid positioning established the modified CR3BP framework, defining the shifted L4/L5 target geometry and evaluating potential equilibrium configurations across parameterised grids of source positions and artificial mass ratios. A control baseline experiment was conducted with zero artificial mass to verify natural Jupiter-Europa CR3BP dynamics and prove that unassisted natural equilibrium points cannot meet target positioning/stability thresholds.
A two-filter search pipeline was implemented as fast static root-finding discards configurations where the equilibrium point is > 5,000 km from r_target and evaluated orbital dynamics on Stage 1 candidates to determine trajectory excursion limits. This incorporated an initial sanity-check section against known baseline parameters before launching global grid searches to ensure numerical validity. Coarse-to-fine optimisation & minimum mass bound refinement refined the pipeline to determine the global minimum required artificial mass ratio (target <0.01% of Europa's mass).