Solar sail surfing along families of equilibrium points

We have considered the planar circular RTBP + solar radiation pressure to model the movement of a solar sail in the Earth-Sun system. It is known that for a fixed value of the sail lightness number this model has three 1-parametric families of equilibria parametrised by the sail orientation. Most of these fixed points are unstable and require a control strategy to keep a sail close to them. We have studied the linear dynamic around them and how it varies when the sail orientation is changed. We have used this information to derive strategies to move along these families and control the trajectory of the sail close to a given fixed point. Finally, we have tested our strategies for a particular mission. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.