Free return orbit design and characteristics analysis for manned lunar mission

A circumlunar free return orbit design model that satisfies manned lunar mission constraints is established. By combining analytical method with numerical method,a serial orbit design strategy from initial value design to precision solution is proposed. A simulation example is given,and the conclusion indicates that the method has excellent convergence performance and precision. According to a great deal of simulation results solved by the method,the free return orbit characters such as accessible moon orbit parameters,return orbit parameters,transfer delta velocity,etc. are analyzed,which can supply references to constitute manned lunar mission orbit scheme.