THESIS PROJECT
Trajectory Optimisation for Long-Range Proximity Operations

Project Description

About

At Vinterstellar, we design tools and strategies for the future of satellite operations. We’re now offering a Master Thesis project at the frontier of orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization — investigating how reference path design can reduce fuel cost in long-range proximity operations.

Thesis Objective

Classical glideslope guidance was developed for terminal rendezvous at separations of tens to hundreds of meters. Our orbit dynamics team has extended a multi-impulse HCW glideslope optimizer out to initial separations on the order of 100 km. At these ranges, the ΔV landscape shows strong anisotropies that suggest the straight-line reference path is itself a meaningful source of fuel cost. The thesis investigates whether curved reference corridors — surrounded by a tolerance tube — can exploit geometric structure that a straight line cannot, and which corridor families are worth pursuing under realistic operational constraints.

What You’ll Gain

  • Deep expertise in relative orbital motion, constrained trajectory optimization, and proximity operations
  • Experience extending and working within a real engineering codebase used for mission analysis
  • Exposure to operational constraints drawn from actual space mission scenarios
  • Scope for a publishable contribution if you are interested
  • Direct collaboration with the Vinterstellar orbit dynamics and space systems engineering team

 

You will work on:

  • Solver Generalisation: Extend the existing optimizer from rectilinear glideslopes to smooth reference paths with tube constraints, including time-varying geometries handled via quasi-static replanning
  • Corridor Catalogue: Identify and characterize candidate corridor families — including solar exclusion zones, Earth-shadow transits, natural-motion-mimicking trajectories, friendly-asset line-of-sight, sensor coverage gaps, and others
  • Benchmarking: Establish a structured comparison between approach strategies, with explicit sensitivity analysis to modelling assumptions
  • Assessment: Deliver a ranked, justified evaluation of the corridor design space

Location & Collaboration

  • Work closely with the Vinterstellar orbit dynamics and space systems engineering team
  • Duration: ~5 months (thesis project)
  • Flexible setup (remote or hybrid with touchpoints in Sweden)

How to Apply

Send your CV, transcript, and a short motivation letter to: career@vinterstellar.se

Applications reviewed continuously.

Who Should Apply?

We’re looking for motivated master’s students in:

  • Aerospace Engineering (with focus on astrodynamics or orbital mechanics)
  • Engineering Physics, Applied Mathematics, or similar fields
  • Computer Science with a strong background in optimization

An ideal candidate has a solid foundation in CW/HCW relative motion theory, fluency in constrained nonlinear optimization, and strong Python skills. Familiarity with Tschauner-Hempel dynamics, Lambert targeting, or differential games is a plus. We are looking for someone who engages critically with the problem formulation rather than treating it as a fixed specification.