End-to-end trajectory design for a solar-sail-only pole-sitter at Venus, Earth, and Mars

Heiligers, J., Vergaaij, M. and Ceriotti, M. (2021) End-to-end trajectory design for a solar-sail-only pole-sitter at Venus, Earth, and Mars. Advances in Space Research, 67(9), pp. 2995-3011. (doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.06.011)

Abstract

The concept of a pole-sitter has been under investigation for many years, showing the capability of a low-thrust propulsion system to maintain a spacecraft at a static position along a planet’s polar axis. From such a position, the spacecraft has a view of the planet’s polar regions equivalent to that of the low- and mid-latitudes from geostationary orbit. Previous work has hinted at the existence of pole-sitters that would only require a solar sail to provide the necessary propulsive thrust if a slight deviation from a position exactly along the polar axis is allowed, without compromising on the continuous view of the planet’s polar region (a so-called quasi-pole-sitter). This paper conducts a further in-depth analysis of these high-potential solar-sail-only quasi-pole-sitters and presents a full end-to-end trajectory design: from launch and transfer to orbit design and orbit control. The results are the next steppingstone towards strengthening the feasibility and utility of these orbits for continuous planetary polar observation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Solar sailing, pole-sitter, orbit design, trajectory optimisation, orbit control.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ceriotti, Dr Matteo and Vergaaij, Miss Merel
• Authors: Heiligers, J., Vergaaij, M., 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: Advances in Space Research
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0273-1177
• ISSN (Online): 1879-1948
• Published Online: 20 June 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 COSPAR
• First Published: First published in Advances in Space Research 67(9):2995-3011
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy