Thrust Vector Control Analysis and Design for Solar-Sail Spacecraft

摘要

This paper presents a comprehensive mathematical formulation as well as a practical solution of the thrust vector control design problem of solar-sail spacecraft. Thrust vector control logic is part of an attitude and orbit control system of sailcraft, which maintains the proper orientation of a sailcraft to provide its desired thrust vector pointing/ steering. The solar-pressure thrust vector direction of a sailcraft is often described by its cone and clock angles measured with respect to certain orbital reference frames. This paper describes various forms of orbital trajectory equations, which employ two different sets of such cone and clock angles, for the analysis, design, and simulation of solar-sail thrust vector control systems. In particular, quaternion-based thrust vector control/orbit control system architecture is proposed for solar sails because of its simple computational algorithm for determining the desired sailcraft attitude quaternions from the commanded cone and clock angles of the solar-pressure thrust vector. The practicality of the proposed quaternion-based thrust vector control/orbit control system architecture is demonstrated for the Solar Polar Imager mission employing a 160-m, 450-kg solar-sail spacecraft.