A method to design ballistic capture orbits in the real solar system model is presented, so extending previous works using the planar restricted three-body problem. In this generalization a number of issues arise, which are treated in the present work. These involve reformulating the notion of stability in threedimensions, managing a multi-dimensional space of initial conditions, and implementing a restricted n-body model with accurate planetary ephemerides. Initial conditions are categorized into four subsets according to the orbits they generate in forward and backward time. These are labelled weakly stable, unstable, crash, and acrobatic, and their manipulation allows us to derive orbits with prescribed behavior. A post-capture stability index is formulated to extract the ideal orbits, which are those of practical interest. Study cases analyze ballistic capture about Mercury, Europa, and the Earth. These simulations show the effectiveness of the developed method in finding solutions matching mission requirements.

Analysis of ballistic capture orbits in Sun–planet systems is conducted in this paper. This mechanism utilizes purely gravitational forces, and may occur in non-Keplerian regimes. Ballistic capture orbits are generated by proper manipulation of sets of initial conditions that satisfy a simple definition of stability. Six Sun–planet systems are considered, including the inner planets, Jupiter, and Saturn. The role of planets orbital eccentricity, their true anomaly, and mass ratios is investigated. Moreover, the influence of the post-capture orbit in terms of inclination and orientation is also assessed. Analyses are performed from qualitative and quantitative perspective. The quality of capture orbits is measured by means of the stability index, whereas the capture ratio gives information on their statistical occurrence. Some underlying principles on the selection of the dynamical model, the initial true anomaly, and inclination are obtained. These provide a reference for practical cases

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