Characterization of Numerical Error in the Simulation of Translunar Trajectories Using the Method of Nearby Problems

Abstract

This thesis focuses on analyzing the effect numerical error has on the accurate simulation of translunar trajectories. The method of nearby problems is employed to estimate the numerical error. A simulation is developed to generate translunar trajectories. Analytical curve fit is generated to this numerical solution and this curve fit is used to compute analytical source terms. The addition of these source terms to the governing equations defines a nearby problem, for which the curve fit serves as an exact solution. By solving the nearby problem numerically, the numerical error in it can be calculated. This facilitates the estimation of numerical error in the original problem.