Solar sail attitude control and dynamics, part 2

Dynamical models and attitude control concepts are developed for the purpose of sailcraft attitude control systems design. Particular emphasis is placed on a two-axis gimbaled control boom to counter the significant solar-pressure disturbance torque caused by an uncertain offset between the center of mass and center of pressure. Controlling sailcraft attitude by sail shifting and tilting is also investigated. A flight experiment in a geostationary orbit for the purpose of validating the principle of solar sailing is also proposed. A 40 x 40 m, 160-kg sailcraft in an Earth-centered elliptic orbit, with a nominal solar-pressure force of 0.01 N, an uncertain center-of-mass/center-of-pressure offset of +/-0.1 m, and moments of inertia of (6000, 3000, 3000) kg (.) m(2), is studied to illustrate the various concepts and principles involved in dynamic modeling and attitude control design.