Commercial Cubesat Technology to Enhance Science: Communications, Space Debris Identification and Moon Surface Reconnaissance Using Lagrangian Cyclers

This paper deals with novel cycler trajectories for cubesats that will depart from low-Earth orbit (LEO) to help determine the resources needed for interplanetary travel and infrastructure required for space colonization on the Moon. Our cubesats will depart from a 400-km parking orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to provide significant opportunities to enhance communication and navigation strategies while improving space exploration capabilities. Different cycler orbits connecting the Lagrange points in the Earth-Moon system are explored, which will enable us to improve our communications and navigation from Earth via low ∆ V connection nodes often referred to as the Interplanetary Superhighway.