An Analysis of Guided Motion of a Research Spacecraft with a Solar Sail

The paper considers guided motion of a research spacecraft with a frame-type solar sail. When scheduled turns of the solar sail are performed, disturbing forces appear, the characteristics of which depend on the solar sail design. It is necessary to take into account the design features of the solar sail to analyze the controlled motion of the spacecraft. A finite element model of a frame-type solar sail spacecraft construction is developed. A mathematical model of motion in the combined helio-centric coordinate system is described. Local-optimal control laws of orbit elements maintenance and correction are formulated. The software developed for simulating the motion of a spacecraft with a solar sail in the heliocentric coordinate system is used in this study. The analysis of the data obtained during motion simulation demonstrates the feasibility of using the solar sail technology for interplanetary flights.

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