In 1963, Dr. Qian Xuesen （Tsien Hsue-Shen） pointed out the significance of the study on interplanetary travel, and revealed the potential utilization of electric propulsion in his book ＂Introduction to Interplanetary Travel＂ （in Chinese）. Compared to traditional chemical propulsion, the high-specific-impulse electric propulsion is promising to carry more payloads and achieve enhanced flight performance for interplanetary travel. Meanwhile, the design and optimization of continuous-thrust transfer trajectories resulting from the use of electric propulsion have brought new research contents to the traditional spacecraft＇s orbital dynamics, and meanwhile guides the future development of electric propulsion. This article will present technological progress of electric propulsion, continuous-thrust trajectory design, and comprehensive optimization of interplanetary flight, attempting to describe the fundamental content and approach of the utilization of electric propulsion for interplanetary travel, as well as for manned deep-space flight.%早在1963年，钱学森先生在他出版的专著《星际航行概论》中阐述了星际航行研究的重要性以及电火箭技术在星际航行中的应用前景．与传统化学推进相比，高比冲电火箭或电推进技术有望为星际航行任务承载更多有效载荷以及实现更佳航行性能．与此同时，与电火箭技术应用相关的连续推力轨道分析与优化设计为航天轨道力学注入了新的研究内容，并指导着电火箭星际航行的未来发展．该文将依次介绍电火箭技术进展、连续推力轨道设计以及电火箭星际航行的综合优化问题，力图描述电火箭应用于星际航行的基本内容与实现途径以及应用于载人深空飞行的设想．
展开▼
