Solar sail optimal control with solar irradiance fluctuations

The optimization of a solar sail-based orbital transfer amounts to searching for the control law that minimizes flight time. In this context, optimal trajectory is usually determined assuming constant properties. However, total irradiance undergoes both long-term (solar cycles) and short-term variations, recent analyses have shown may an impact on sailing missions requiring accurate thrust modulation. regard, paper discusses strategy overcome such issue by suitably adjusting vector in order track reference, optimal, trajectory. particular, sail propulsive acceleration magnitude modified means set electrochromic material panels, which change their optical properties application suitable electric voltage. proposed validated with numerical simulations involve classical Earth-Mars, orbit-to-orbit, heliocentric transfer.