Gravitational Multibody Dynamics: A Quick-start Guide - Lesson 4: Stability and Orbit Manifold

Instructions:

- Join NASA Flight Mechanics CoP on Teams (link section below)
- Add this to your calendar for a convenient 15-minute reminder.
- Join Teams Meeting at designated time.
- Enjoy!

Abstract:
This session (lesson 4 out of 5-part series) examines how the stability of CR3BP periodic orbits is determined from variational dynamics. The lecture introduces the monodromy matrix, characteristic multipliers, stability indices, and the computation of stable and unstable invariant manifolds that reveal natural transport pathways near periodic orbits.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Davide Guzzetti is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University and a Samuel Ginn Faculty Achievement Fellow. His work centers on astrodynamics and space mission design, including spacecraft trajectory design in multi-body and cislunar environments, cislunar domain awareness, spatial computing for astrodynamics, and small orbital debris remediation. He has received a NASA Early Career Faculty Award and recognition as a NASA NIAC Fellow, along with Auburn University recognitions for research and mentorship. At Auburn, he teaches space mission design and orbital mechanics, and contributed to Designing the Moonshot: Introduction to Multi-Body Dynamics, a massive open online course on multi-body gravitational dynamics. He is a current member of the American Astronautical Society Space Flight Mechanics Committee. Dr. Guzzetti earned his Ph.D. in Astrodynamics from Purdue University, M.S. degrees in Space Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.