The present status and prospects in the research of orbital dynamics and control near small celestial bodies

Small celestial body exploration is of great significance to deep space activities. The dynamics and control of orbits around small celestial bodies is of top priority in the exploration research. It includes the modeling of dynamics environment and the orbital dynamics mechanism. This paper introduced state-ofthe-art researches, major challenges, and future trends in this field. Three topics are mainly discussed: the gravitational field modeling of irregular-shaped small celestial bodies, natural orbital dynamics and control, and controlled orbital dynamics. Finally, constructive suggestions are made for China’s future space exploration missions.