🚀 Discovery of a new route to the Moon that is much more fuel-efficient

Researchers have just uncovered a route to the Moon that consumes significantly less fuel than all previously known itineraries. This unprecedented trajectory, calculated using advanced computer simulations, promises to drastically reduce the cost of lunar missions. The international team examined millions of potential paths before stumbling upon this solution that is both simple and effective.


The trick lies in the optimal use of gravity. Indeed, spacecraft only use their engines intermittently; the rest of the time, they are guided by the attraction of celestial bodies. The researchers discovered that by taking a distant branch of an orbital "family" – a term designating a natural trajectory – instead of the one closest to Earth, one benefits more from the free propulsion offered by gravity.

This approach, based on the theory of functional connections, made it possible to simulate 30 million different routes, resulting in a saving of 58.80 meters per second (about 193 feet per second) less in fuel consumption compared to the most economical path known so far. Such a saving can translate into important economies, as each kilogram of fuel saved lightens the payload to be launched.

Another significant advantage of this route is that it maintains constant communication with Earth. In contrast, the Artemis 2 mission suffered contact losses when passing behind the Moon. Vitor Martins de Oliveira, co-author of the study and researcher at the University of São Paulo, explains that the proposed orbit avoids this problem.


However, this route is not necessarily the best possible. The current models only took into account the gravity of Earth and the Moon. By integrating other factors such as solar attraction, even more efficient trajectories could emerge, as indicated by researcher Allan Kardec de Almeida Júnior.

The study, published in the journal Astrodynamics, paves the way for a more systematic planning of space missions. The method employed could be generalized to explore other destinations in the Solar System, enabling the optimization of interplanetary travel with limited resources.