Lunar Transfers
Exploring the moon is of utmost interest. Water ice was recently discovered at the moon’s south pole. We need a steady inflow of data and images to monitor our moon’s surface. Our Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) will perform Translunar Orbit Injections from a very low earth orbit of 185 km into a lunar orbit via a Ballistic Lunar Transfer (BLT).
This low energy, long-duration Ballistic Lunar Transfer (BLT), starting from roughly 185 km will allow for larger payload on board the OTV than in the case of a direct transfer. The mission will begin with a trans-lunar injection performed tangentially to the parking orbit. The OTV will then cruise as it makes its way close to the moon. We then execute a lunar orbit injection and complete the mission with a minor injection into a stable Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit.