Extraplanetary Exploration Using Electric Solar Wind Sail

This doctoral research investigates the problems in the dynamics and control of extraplanetary exploration using an electric solar wind sail (E-sail). The E-sail is a novel propellantless propulsion technology that harvests energy by repelling the charged particles in solar wind. It consists of a spinning central spacecraft connected by kilometer-long and thin positively charged tethers with remote units at their tips. Three dynamic models of E-sail are developed: the high-fidelity tether dynamic model, the generalized E-sail model, and the reduced-order analytical E-sail model. The coupling effects of orbital and self-spinning motions of the E-sail, the elastic deformation of tethers, the rigid-flexible coupling effect on the attitude dynamics and spin control of E-sail, and the stability control of the flexible E-sail are thoroughly investigated based on these models. Meanwhile, the controllability of E-sail spin rate and the attitude of the E-sail are demonstrated, and the trajectory tracking problems in extraplanetary exploration missions are studied. Finally, the main contributions of this dissertation are introduced

Extraplanetary Exploration Using Electric Solar Wind Sail

This doctoral research investigates the problems in the dynamics and control of extraplanetary exploration using an electric solar wind sail (E-sail). The E-sail is a novel propellantless propulsion technology that harvests energy by repelling the charged particles in solar wind. It consists of a spinning central spacecraft connected by kilometer-long and thin positively charged tethers with remote units at their tips. Three dynamic models of E-sail are developed: the high-fidelity tether dynamic model, the generalized E-sail model, and the reduced-order analytical E-sail model. The coupling effects of orbital and self-spinning motions of the E-sail, the elastic deformation of tethers, the rigid-flexible coupling effect on the attitude dynamics and spin control of E-sail, and the stability control of the flexible E-sail are thoroughly investigated based on these models. Meanwhile, the controllability of E-sail spin rate and the attitude of the E-sail are demonstrated, and the trajectory tracking problems in extraplanetary exploration missions are studied. Finally, the main contributions of this dissertation are introduced