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Research Article | Open Access

Optimal interplanetary trajectories for Sun-facing ideal diffractive sails

Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, I-56122 Pisa, Italy
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Graphical Abstract

This paper analyzes three-dimensional orbital transfers performed by a spacecraft propelled with a diffractive sail. The latter is a highly-innovative propellantless propulsive system that, differently from a classical solar sail, exploits diffraction of sunlight to generate thrust. In this work, an ideal diffractive sail is assumed, which constantly maintain a Sun-facing attitude, that is, the normal to its surface is constantly along the Sun–spacecraft direction. Diffractive sail-based orbital transfers are analyzed within an optimal framework, with the aim of minimizing the total flight time. The optimal steering law is then tested in some potential deep space mission scenario, including a rendezvous with asteroid 16 Psyche.

Abstract

A diffractive sail is a solar sail whose exposed surface is covered by an advanced diffractive metamaterial film with engineered optical properties. This study examines the optimal performance of a diffractive solar sail with a Sun-facing attitude in a typical orbit-to-orbit heliocentric transfer. A Sun-facing attitude, which can be passively maintained through the suitable design of the sail shape, is obtained when the sail nominal plane is perpendicular to the Sun–spacecraft line. Unlike an ideal reflective sail, a Sun-facing diffractive sail generates a large transverse thrust component that can be effectively exploited to change the orbital angular momentum. Using a recent thrust model, this study determines the optimal control law of a Sun-facing ideal diffractive sail and simulates the minimum transfer times for a set of interplanetary mission scenarios. It also quantifies the performance difference between Sun-facing diffractive sail and reflective sail. A case study presents the results of a potential mission to the asteroid 16 Psyche.

Keywords

diffractive solar sailSun-facing sailinterplanetary transfertrajectory optimization

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Astrodynamics
Volume 7 Issue 3,
September 2023
Pages 285-299
DOI: 10.1007/s42064-023-0158-4
Cite this article:
Quarta AA, Mengali G, Bassetto M, et al. Optimal interplanetary trajectories for Sun-facing ideal diffractive sails. Astrodynamics, 2023, 7(3): 285-299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42064-023-0158-4

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Received: 20 October 2022
Accepted: 17 January 2023
Published: 16 June 2023
© The Author(s) 2023

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