@article{Niccolai2023, 
author = {Lorenzo Niccolai and Alessandro A. Quarta and Giovanni Mengali},
title = {Application of homotopy perturbation method to the radial thrust problem},
year = {2023},
journal = {Astrodynamics},
volume = {7},
number = {2},
pages = {251-258},
keywords = {radial thrust, homotopy perturbation method, nonlinear oscillator, trajectory approximation},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1007/s42064-022-0150-4},
doi = {10.1007/s42064-022-0150-4},
abstract = {The dynamics of a spacecraft propelled by a continuous radial thrust resembles that of a nonlinear oscillator. This is analyzed in this work with a novel method that combines the definition of a suitable homotopy with a classical perturbation approach, in which the low thrust is assumed to be a perturbation of the nominal Keplerian motion. The homotopy perturbation method provides the analytical (approximate) solution of the dynamical equations in polar form to estimate the corresponding spacecraft propelled trajectory with a short computational time. The accuracy of the analytical results was tested in an orbital-targeting mission scenario.}
}