// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Maneuver Planning
This is the process of calculating and scheduling specific actions, like firing thrusters, to change a spacecraft's orbit, trajectory, or orientation. It's done to achieve mission goals or avoid collisions.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The strategic and tactical process of calculating and scheduling propulsive burns or attitude adjustments for a spacecraft to achieve desired orbital parameters, rendezvous, or collision avoidance, optimizing fuel consumption and mission objectives within operational constraints.
BACKGROUND
Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost, or simply Blue Ghost, is a class of lunar landers designed and manufactured by the American company Firefly Aerospace. Firefly builds and operates Blue Ghost landers to deliver small payloads to the surface of the Moon. The first Blue Ghost mission was launched in January, 2025. It successfully landed on the Moon on March 2, 2025. The landers are named after the firefly species Phausis reticulata, known as blue ghosts.
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- Trajectory planning
- Orbit change planning
- Delta-V planning
- Propulsion scheduling
- Orbital mechanics planning
USAGE NOTE
Accurate maneuver planning is essential to ensure a satellite reaches its target orbit and avoids space debris.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Maneuver Planning.
Provides satellite tracking and collision avoidance services using its global network of phased-array radars. Their platform offers data and tools for operators to plan and execute avoidance maneuvers for spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
Develops a space situational awareness (SSA) platform that fuses data from various sources to provide collision avoidance alerts and recommend optimal maneuvers for satellite operators. Their tools aim to automate and simplify maneuver planning.
Offers an autonomous space traffic coordination platform named Pathfinder. It provides predictive collision alerts and automates the entire maneuver planning and execution workflow for satellite operators to ensure flight safety.
Creator of the Systems Tool Kit (STK), a foundational physics-based modeling and simulation software for the aerospace industry. STK is used extensively for mission design, orbit determination, and detailed maneuver planning.
Operates the largest commercial network of optical telescopes for tracking objects in space, particularly in geosynchronous orbit. Their data is a critical input for satellite operators performing station-keeping and collision avoidance maneuver planning.
As a leading center for robotic space exploration, JPL develops and operates sophisticated navigation and maneuver planning systems for deep space missions. Their technology enables precise trajectory corrections for spacecraft millions of miles from Earth.
Through its Space Safety Programme, ESA's Space Debris Office provides collision risk analysis and supports maneuver planning for its own missions and other European operators. They develop advanced tools and techniques for autonomous collision avoidance.
Provides comprehensive satellite ground segment solutions, including command and control software that incorporates tools for mission planning, orbit determination, and maneuver planning to maintain satellite health and operational orbits.