A surface constraint approach for solar sail orbits

TL;DR

This paper introduces a surface geometric constraint method for designing solar sail orbits, utilizing a generalized LRL vector and specific surface constraints to create various orbit solutions, including non-Keplerian ones.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach using surface constraints and a generalized LRL vector to design solar sail orbits with constant cone angles, including non-Keplerian orbits.

Findings

Successfully designed orbits constrained on cylinders.

Extended method to displaced non-Keplerian orbits.

Demonstrated effectiveness through simulations.

Abstract

In this paper, a surface geometric constraint approach is used in designing the orbits of a solar sail. We solve the solar sail equation of motion by obtaining a generalized Laplace-Runge-Lenz (LRL) vector with the assumption that the cone angle is constant throughout the mission. A family of orbit equation solutions can then be specified by defining a constraint equation that relates the radial and polar velocities of the spacecraft and is dependent on the geometry of the surface where the spacecraft is expected to move. The proposed method is successfully applied in the design of orbits constrained on cylinders and to displaced non-Keplerian orbits.