# GTOC8: Results and Methods of ESA Advanced Concepts Team and JAXA-ISAS

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1602.00849 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1602.00849/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 2 Feb 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Feasible Low-thrust Trajectory Identification via a Deep Neural Network Classifier](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.04962/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We consider the interplanetary trajectory design problem posed by the 8th edition of the Global Trajectory Optimization Competition and present the end-to-end strategy developed by the team ACT-ISAS (a collaboration between the European Space Agency's Advanced Concepts Team and JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science). The resulting interplanetary trajectory won 1st place in the competition, achieving a final mission value of J=146.33 [Mkm]. Several new algorithms were developed in this context but have an interest that go beyond the particular problem considered, thus, they are discussed in some detail. These include the Moon-targeting technique, allowing one to target a Moon encounter from a low Earth orbit; the 1-k and 2-k fly-by targeting techniques, enabling one to design resonant fly-bys while ensuring a targeted future formation plane% is acquired at some point after the manoeuvre ; the distributed low-thrust targeting technique, admitting one to control the spacecraft formation plane at 1,000,000 [km]; and the low-thrust optimization technique, permitting one to enforce the formation plane's orientations as path constraints.