Analysis of thrust-induced sail plane coning and attitude motion of electric sail

Electric Solar Wind Sail Mass Budget Model

The electric solar wind sail (E-sail) is a new type of propellantless propulsion system for Solar System transportation, which uses the natural solar wind for producing spacecraft propulsion. This paper discusses a mass breakdown and a performance model for 5 an E-sail spacecraft that hosts a scientific payload of prescribed mass. In particular, the model is able to estimate the total spacecraf...

Coupled Attitude-Orbit Dynamics and Control for an Electric Sail in a Heliocentric Transfer Mission

The paper discusses the coupled attitude-orbit dynamics and control of an electric-sail-based spacecraft in a heliocentric transfer mission. The mathematical model characterizing the propulsive thrust is first described as a function of the orbital radius and the sail angle. Since the solar wind dynamic pressure acceleration is induced by the sail attitude, the orbital and attitude dynamics of ...

Low-Thrust to Solar-Sail Trajectories: A Homotopic Approach

Combining Electric and Sail Propulsion for Interplanetary Sample Return*

Fast sample return from the outer Solar System would open an entirely new avenue for space science, but the vast distances make this a daunting task. The achievable transit velocity and the need for extra propellant on the return trip limit the feasibility of returning extraterrestrial samples to Earth. To keep the mission duration short enough to be of interest, sample return from objects fart...

Starting to Sail

lent, considered by many to be one of the best sailing areas in the country, provided an opportunity not to be missed. Although my initial trip out was in a yacht, most of my early experience was in dinghies less expensive to buy and to repair if damaged. The first dinghy I shared was with three other equally inexperienced friends. We bought a 14 foot fibre glass family dinghy through Exchange ...