Numerical Solutions on the Astronautical Problem of Thrust Vector Control for Optimum Solar Sail Transfer,
Abstract
The problem of optimum orbital transfer by means of best control of a solar radiation pressure thrusting device is considered. The method of analysis is based on a general approach using the indirect variational techniques. The study presented is concerned with the problem of optimum solar sail orbital transfer, such that the vehicle departing from an initial circular orbit arrives with maximum orbit velocity (also called injection velocity) at a given distance from the Sun. For those cases where the maximum orbit velocity, at the given distance from the Sun, corresponds with elliptical orbit velocity, the variational problem considered is therefore equivalent to an orbital transfer with maximum 'visviva' or to the ellipse of maximum semi-major axis. In this work the boundary value problem associated with the natural and physical end-conditions is solved numerically and a generalized graphical construction solving for the initial values of the multipliers, for given final radius (or distance from the Sun), is presented. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0715611
Entities
People
- C. R. Cavoti
Organizations
- General Electric