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  • Solar Sail Surfing Along Families Of Equilibrium Points

    Paper number

    IAC-07-C1.4.04

    Author

    Ms. Ariadna Farrés, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

    Coauthor

    Prof. Angel Jorba, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

    Year

    2007

    Abstract
    We have considered the Circular RTBP + Solar radiation pressure to model the movement of a Solar sail in the Earth - Sun system. If the radiation pressure is neglected, it is well known that this model has 5 equilibrium points. When the sail effect is added these equilibrium points are replaced by a 2D family of equilibria parametrised by the two angles that define the sail orientation. It is well know that, for realistic values of the sail lightness number, this surface has two
    disconnected components: one includes the points L1, L3, L4 and L5 and is topologically equivalent to a torus, and the other component includes L2 and is topologically equivalent to a sphere.
    
    Some of these equilibrium points have been considered for mission applications, like the Geostorm and Polar observer missions. Other equilibrium points can also be interesting for other mission concepts. In this presentation we will show how to use dynamical systems tools to derive strategies to drift along these surfaces of equilibrium points.
    
    Looking at the stability of these points we can classify them into two groups. The first group includes those equilibria which have at least one pair of real eigenvalues, and in the second group we include those with complex eigenvalues. The knowledge of the invariant manifolds close to the equilibrium points and how the different orientations of the sail affects them has permitted us design strategies to drift along these two families of equilibria. These strategies are different
    for each stability group mentioned above (similar ideas can be used for the station keeping).
    
    This technique allows transfers between L1 and Sub-L1, L4, L5 and L3 in the Earth-Sun system and, in particular, between these points and the locations of the Geostorm and Polar Observer missions. As an example, we will show how to go from the neighbourhood of L1 to the stability region around L4.
    
    Abstract document

    IAC-07-C1.4.04.pdf

    Manuscript document

    IAC-07-C1.4.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

    To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.