Solar sailing trajectory optimization with planetary gravity assist

• Published in: Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy mechanics & astronomy, 2015-01, Vol.58 (1), p.54-64
• Main Authors: Cai, XingShan, Li, JunFeng, Gong, ShengPing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Classical and Continuum Physics; Construction; Flyby missions; Gravitation; Maneuvers; Mathematical models; Observations and Techniques; Orbital rendezvous; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Propulsion systems; Rendezvous; Sailing; Sails; Solar sails; Space missions; Time optimal control; Trajectory optimization; 太阳能; 帆船; 星历模型; 最优控制问题; 行星; 轨迹优化; 运动; 重力
• ISSN: 1674-7348; 1869-1927
• DOI: 10.1007/s11433-014-5567-1

Significant propellant mass saving can be obtained with the use of complex multiple intermediate flyby maneuvers for conventional propulsion systems, and trip time also decreases for a portion of the proper solar sail missions. This paper discusses the performance of gravity assist （GA） in the time-optimal control problem of solar sailing with respect to sail lightness number and the energy difference between the initial and final orbit in the rendezvous problem in a two-body model, in which the GA is modeled as a substantial change in the velocity of the sailcraft at the GA time. In addition, this paper presents a method to solve the time-optimal problem of solar sailing with GA in a full ephemeris model, which introduces the third body＇s gravity in a dynamic equation. This study builds a set of inner constraints that can describe the GA process accurately. Finally, this study presents an example for evaluating the accuracy and rationality of the two-body model＇s simplification of GA by comparison with the full ephemeris model.