Gyro-Control of a Solar Sailing Satellite

TL;DR

This paper proposes a gyro-controlled solar sailing method using a spinning sail to generate control torques, enabling large attitude maneuvers for future science missions with fully deployed sails.

Contribution

It introduces a novel control approach utilizing a spinning sail as a control moment gyroscope, expanding the capabilities of solar sail attitude control.

Findings

Simulation results demonstrate effective large attitude maneuvers.

The gyro-control method provides a viable solution for future solar sailing missions.

Steering laws enable precise attitude adjustments with the proposed system.

Abstract

Recent successes in the deployment of sails in space have reduced the risk associated with solar sailing missions. The attitude control requirements for a solar sailing mission is low with only slow attitude maneuvers needed to maintain a stable attitude and produce a required solar thrust. Future science missions will require large attitude maneuvers with a fully deployed sail. This article investigates the current options for attitude control on solar sails and proposes a gyro-controlled solar sailing. This concept uses a spinning solar sail to construct a control moment gyroscope capable to produce large torques. Steering laws for performing attitude maneuvers and simulation results are presented which demonstrates the capabilities of such a solution.