ICNPAA 2010: Mathematical Problems in
Engineering, Aerospace and Sciences

The main goal of this work is to evaluate the total fuel consumption in a spacecraft transfer orbit procedure, using two-impulsive orbital maneuvers between elliptical orbits, with a time limit to perform the transfer, considering specifics positions on the initial and final orbits to start and finish the transfer. This is known as Lambert’s problem. The problem consists of calculating the transfer orbit that connects a point on the initial orbit to another point on the final orbit in a certain amount of time. To find the solution, an algorithm using a numerical method can be used. Therefore, the contribution of this work is the solution of the problem using universal variables in a algorithm which uses two computed search stages (rough and fine search). This approach allows achieving accurate results with a low CPU effort. This algorithm was implemented to provide a maneuver simulator capable to assist in the spacecraft mission analysis, seeking for the best combination of time and fuel consumption.