Design of Optimal Cyclers Using Solar Sails

Abstract

Ongoing interest in establishing a base on Mars has spurred a need for regular and repeated visits to the red planet using a cycling shuttle to transport supplies, equipment and to retrieve surface samples. This thesis presents an approach to designing an optimal heliocentric cycling orbit, or cycler, using solar sails. Results show that solar sails can be used to significantly reduce V infinity s at Mars and Earth.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA411096

Entities

People

  • Robert E. Stevens

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aphelions
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Geometry
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Orbits
  • Perihelions
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Rendezvous
  • Solar Radiation
  • Solar Sails
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Three Dimensional
  • Trajectories
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Battery Technology and Engineering
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers