Electrochromic device has been proposed for the attitude control of spacecraft for that the optical characteristics of the device can be altered by applying electrical excitation to generate a torque on the spacecraft. The technology was recently employed and verified successfully on IKAROS, the world’s first interplanetary solar sail. It is found that the reflection control device can not only be used to generate desired torque to control the attitude of a sail, but also it can be used to change the total force on the sail instantaneously. The property is proved to be very helpful for the active control of a sailcraft. In this study, the force and torque models of a reflectivity modulated spinning disk sail experienced by solar radiation pressure are discussed. A reflectivity modulation scheme, which was used in IKAROS mission, is investigated for the active control in a GeoSail formation flying application. The main objective of the study is to construct a method for the active control of solar sail in some situation where an additional control input is required in addition to two sail attitude angles. The coupled attitude and orbit dynamics of the sail on a GeoSail orbit is discussed and the equation of relative orbit and attitude motion is given. Finally, the performance of the reflectivity modulation control for GeoSail formation flying is numerically demonstrated.
Coupled Attitude–Orbit Dynamics and Control of Reflectivity Modulated Solar Sail for GeoSail Formation Flying
Springer Praxis Books (formerly: Springer-Praxis Series)
04.02.2014
20 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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