PASSIVE CONTROL OF DISPLACED SOLAR SAIL ORBITS

Authors
Citation
Cr. Mcinnes, PASSIVE CONTROL OF DISPLACED SOLAR SAIL ORBITS, Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, 21(6), 1998, pp. 975-982
Citations number
11
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Instument & Instrumentation","Aerospace Engineering & Tecnology
ISSN journal
0731-5090
Volume
21
Issue
6
Year of publication
1998
Pages
975 - 982
Database
ISI
SICI code
0731-5090(1998)21:6<975:PCODSS>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
An analysis of the linear stability and control of families of displac ed solar sail orbits is presented. Three families of orbits are review ed along with their linear stability characteristics. It is then shown that the unstable subfamilies of orbits that exist are controllable u sing state feedback to the sail attitude. However, a more useful resul t is presented that demonstrates that linear stability can be achieved if the sail attitude is fixed relative to the sun-sail line. Such an attitude can be achieved by passive means by a suitable choice of sail shape. Therefore, the subfamilies of unstable orbits can in principle be stabilized by fully passive means. Such passive control is clearly useful for simplifying station-keeping on such orbits.