Cislunar tulip orbits exhibit rich geometry, favorable stability, and multi-directional lunar coverage, offering substantial potential for diverse cislunar mission applications. Previous studies have shown that these orbits bifurcate from the ultra-low-perilune branch of the L2 Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) subset. However, numerical continuation of their entire orbit families is challenging due to the enhanced singularity induced by the non-monotonic variation in the perilune distance. This study focuses on the efficient construction of tulip orbit families and systematically explores their potential applications. First, period-multiplying bifurcation points within the L2 NRHO subset are identified using the Broucke stability diagram, with the initial post-bifurcated orbits obtained through an orbit family switching algorithm. Then, a hybrid continuation protocol that incorporates the Kustaanheimo-Stiefel (KS) transformation is proposed, enabling robust continuation across the highly sensitive near-singular region, followed by the construction of the complete orbit family. Finally, systematic mission evaluations identify two tulip candidates that surpass the 9:2 NRHO and 2:1 Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) in global coverage and eclipse-free geometry, while offering diverse transfer options and comparable station-keeping costs. Consequently, these orbits represent robust alternatives for future cislunar infrastructure, particularly as strategic nodes for lunar navigation constellations and thermally sensitive platforms such as cryogenic propellant depots.
Zhang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.