The book focuses on the orbital dynamics and mission trajectory (transfer or target trajectory) design of low-energy flight in the context of modern astrodynamics. It investigates various topics that either offer new methods for solving classical problems or address emerging problems that have yet to be studied, including low-thrust transfer trajectory design using the virtual gravity field method; transfer in the three-body system using invariant manifolds; formation flying under space-borne artificial magnetic fields; and the orbital dynamics of highly irregular asteroids. It also features an extensive study of the orbital dynamics in the vicinity of contact binary asteroids, including the 1:1 ground-track resonance, the equilibrium points and their stability, and the third-order analytical solution of orbital motion in the vicinity of the non-collinear equilibrium point. Given its breadth of coverage, the book offers a valuable reference guide for allengineers and researchers interested in the potential applications of low-energy space missions. 

Jian-ping Yuan received the B.S. and Ph.D.degrees from Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xian, China, in 1982 and 1985, respectively. He is currently a Professor in the School of Astronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University. His research interests are spacecraft flight dynamics and control.

Yu Cheng 

Research topic: transfer trajectory design in the three-body problem; relative dynamics of a charged spacecraft under a magnetic field and the potential application in formation flying, stability analysis of the critical points and periodic orbits of the Hamiltonian system, and computation of invariant tori using parameterization method.

Jinglang Feng 

Research topic: orbital dynamics around irregular gravitational field, e.g. contact binary asteroid systems, in terms of equilibrium points, periodic orbits and their stability, resonant dynamics, etc. Moreover, the perturbation of solar radiation pressure on the secular dynamics oforbital motion around asteroid are also investigated for mission analysis. 

Chong Sun

Research topic: continuous low thrust trajectory design and optimization, including the solar sail low thrust trajectory design, the solar electrical propulsion low thrust trajectory design, and hybrid low thrust trajectory design and its application. For example, the near earth asteroid exploration, the period orbit mission in three body system.

Introduction.- Continuous Low Thrust Trajectory Design and optimization.- Study of the Transfer Between Libration Point Orbits and Lunar Orbits in Earth-Moon System.- Lorentz Force Formation Flying in Earth-Moon System.- Orbital Dynamics in the Irregular Gravitational Field - Resonance.- Orbital Dynamics in the Vicinity of Contact Binary Asteroid Systems.- Appendices.