Low-thrust to solar-sail trajectories: a homotopic approach

Sullo, N. , Peloni, A. and Ceriotti, M. (2017) Low-thrust to solar-sail trajectories: a homotopic approach. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 40(11), pp. 2796-2806. (doi: 10.2514/1.g002552)

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Abstract

This paper describes a novel method to compute minimum-time solar-sail trajectories starting from a given low-thrust solution. The method is based on the use homotopy and numerical continuation. Homotopy is used to link the low-thrust with the solar-sail optimal control problem. Numerical continuation is used to compute the optimal solar-sail solution, starting from a given low-thrust planar solution, which is normally easy to find. Planar solar sail trajectories are computed by means of the homotopic approach. These solutions are used to compute, in a single shooting approach, three-dimensional solar-sail trajectories, for transfer scenarios involving a small change of the orbital inclination. The proposed homotopic approach is tested against a conventional approach, based on the use of a genetic algorithm. Numerical test cases are performed both on Earth-Mars and Earth-Apophis rendezvous. The results show that the proposed method is advantageous, in terms of accuracy of the solution and computational time.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Alessandro Peloni gratefully acknowledges support for this research from the School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for funding part of this research under the James Watt sponsorship program, award number 1370838.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ceriotti, Dr Matteo and Peloni, Mr Alessandro and Sullo, Nicola
Authors: Sullo, N., Peloni, A., and Ceriotti, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics
Publisher:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
ISSN:0731-5090
ISSN (Online):1533-3884
Published Online:27 July 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 Nicola Sullo, Alessandro Peloni, and Matteo Ceriotti
First Published:First published in Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics 40(11): 2796-2806
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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