Academic Journal
Solar Sail Transfer Trajectory Design for Comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 1 Rendezvous
| Title: | Solar Sail Transfer Trajectory Design for Comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 1 Rendezvous |
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| Authors: | Alessandro A. Quarta, Karim Abu Salem, Giuseppe Palaia |
| Source: | Applied Sciences, Vol 13, Iss 17, p 9590 (2023) |
| Publisher Information: | MDPI AG, 2023. |
| Publication Year: | 2023 |
| Collection: | LCC:Technology LCC:Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) LCC:Biology (General) LCC:Physics LCC:Chemistry |
| Subject Terms: | solar sail, comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 1, optimal heliocentric transfer, preliminary trajectory design, Technology, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Physics, QC1-999, Chemistry, QD1-999 |
| More Details: | The goal of this paper is to analyze the optimal transfer towards the periodic comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 1 of a solar sail-based spacecraft. This periodic and active comet is an interesting and still unexplored small body that has been regarded as an object of the Centaurs group. In this work, a classical (heliocentric) orbit-to-orbit transfer is studied from an optimal viewpoint, by finding the spacecraft trajectories that minimize the flight time for a given value of the solar sail characteristic acceleration, that is, the typical performance parameter of a photonic sail. In particular, the optimal Earth–comet transfer is studied both in a typical three-dimensional mission scenario and with a simplified two-dimensional approach, whose aim is to rapidly obtain an accurate estimation of the minimum flight time with a reduced computation cost. The numerical simulations illustrate the mission performance, in terms of the characteristics of the rapid transfer trajectory, as a function of the typical propulsive parameter and the solar sail thrust model. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 2076-3417 |
| Relation: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/17/9590; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3417 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/app13179590 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/d442388ea9634b6fbf84a26bdf7e07ef |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.442388ea9634b6fbf84a26bdf7e07ef |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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| ISSN: | 20763417 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/app13179590 |
| Published in: | Applied Sciences |
| Language: | English |