Generalized analytical solar radiation pressure modeling algorithm for spacecraft of complex shape

The theoretical background of solar radiation pressure modeling is presented. The attitude behavior of specific classes of spacecraft and how these attitudes make it feasible to model radiation pressure effects in the spacecraft body-fixed coordinate system are explained. The core mathematical and computational elements of the radiation pressure modeling algorithm are described. Specific components of the algorithm that enable the accurate modeling of curved surfaces and the speed optimization of the computational process are detailed. The methods and results of various forms of validation of the modeling method are given. The principal benefits of the method are that it can deal with realistic and complex spacecraft structures easily and efficiently and that it enables forms of analysis that were previously impossible. These include modeling the effects of how radiation reflected from the spacecraft surface can strike other parts of the structure causing further acceleration and simulating the effects of anomalous forces caused by departure from the spacecraft's nominal attitude regime.