Displaced Solar Sail Orbits Around Asteroids with Free Angular Velocity This paper investigates displaced solar sail orbits around an asteroid, characterized by free angular velocity andthe orbital plane that is always perpendicular to the direction of solar illumination. It enables precise control of orbitshape and spatial orientation, as well as improving coverage to the asteroid under varying sunlight directions. It isfound that the angular velocity must be constrained within certain bounds to ensure controllability, which can leadto full orbit circles or orbit arcs in the inertial frame. A nonlinear controller is designed to track real-time-requiredattitude angles
α;δ, incorporating a δ-switching strategy to ensure bounded angular velocity. A novel missionconcept of long-term displaced orbit around 433 Eros throughout its heliocentric orbit using available solar sailtechnology is proposed based on the preceding studies.

Just published on #AIAA #JGCD, Zitong Lin's first journal article:

"Displaced Solar Sail Orbits Around Asteroids with Free Angular Velocity"

https://doi.org/10.2514/1.G008805

#space #academia #PhD #SolarSailing #asteroids