Аннотация:The problem of the optimal control synthesis of the thrust vector of spacecraft (SC) in orbits with ultra-low perigee (alti-tudes 120-250 km) is considered. Compensation for the aerodynamic drag arising at these altitudes is carried out by the thrust of an air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP), using gases of the surrounding atmosphere as a propellant. The main factors to be taken into account to ensure the long-term SC maintenance at ultra-low altitudes are following: a significant depend-ence of ABEP characteristics on the angle of attack and gas concentration in the ionization chamber, and the required power of solar arrays, increase of which leads to an increase in aerodynamic drag and the need for a corresponding increase in thrust.In conditions of limited energy, elliptical orbits may be preferable to ensure the long-term maintenance of the SC with ABEP due to the possibility of using in areas with a high density of the working gases the energy accumulated during the SC motion at high altitudes with lesser drag of solar arrays. In this case, the parameters of solar arrays (the area, specific power at alias) should be taken into account.The synthesis of the optimal thrust vector control is obtained. The solution is based on the use of the Pontryagin maxi-mum principle for a dynamic model of osculating orbital elements, taking into account the factors listed above. Possible methods of SC controlling are considered to maintain them in given orbits and change their parameters: by changing the angle of attack or the ABEP exhaust velocity.The effectiveness estimations of the developed optimal control programs are obtained depending on parameters of orbits, the SC layout, ABEP, and energy sources.