On the station keeping of a Solar sail in the Elliptic Sun-Earth system

In this work we focus on the dynamics of a solar sail in the Sun Earth Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem with solar radiation pressure. The considered situation is the motion of a sail close to the $L_{1}$ point, but displacing the equilibrium point with the sail so that it is possible to have continuous communication with the Earth. In previous works we derived a station keeping strategy for this situation but using the Circular RTBP as a model. In this paper we discuss the effect of the eccentricity in the region close to the sail-displaced $L_{1}$ point of the Circular RTBP. Then we show how to use the information on this dynamics to design a station keeping strategy. Finally, we apply these results to the GeoStorm mission, including errors in the sail orientation and on the estimation of the position of the sail in the simulations

On the stabilizing effect of Solar Radiation Pressure in the Earth-Moon system

Solar sails change the natural dynamics of systems: The typical trajectories are displaced and changed because of the effect of Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP). Moreover, if the effectivity of the sail is large enough, the instability of certain orbits can be diminished and even removed. In this paper we modify two models for the motion of a probe in the Earth-Moon system that include the effect of Sun’s gravity to take also into account the effect of SRP. These models, the Bicircular Problem (BCP) and the Quasi-Bicircular Problem (QBCP), are periodic perturbations of the Earth-Moon Restricted Three Body Problem (RTBP). The models are modified to consider the effect of the SRP upon a Solar Sail. We provide examples of periodic orbits that are stabilized (or made less unstable) due to the effect of SRP

Hypatia I: a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary crew of female analog astronauts dedicated to space research, scientific outreach, and promotion of female role models in space careers

The low representation of women (~33%) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers is extremely concerning and cultivates male-dominant cultures across a variety of academic and professional disciplines. In Spain, only 39% of national projects are led by women, thus evidencing the so-called “leaking pipeline”, that is, the tendency of women and other underrepresented groups to eventually abandon STEM-related fields. This social disequilibrium is particularly strong in the international space sector, where women represent less than ~20% of the workforce. The Hypatia I mission —a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary crew of 9 female scientists— seeks to help address this problem. In April 2023, the Hypatia I crew will participate in a two-week Martian analog mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (Utah, United States) with the goal of (i) performing high-quality space-related research in a simulation environment, (ii) conducting outreach and science communication activities, and most importantly, (iii) promoting female role models in STEM-related fields and inspiring future generations of scientists, particularly young girls interested in space career

The geometry of station-keeping strategies around libration poin orbits

This paper intends to give an insight on the geometry of stationkeeping strategies around Libration Point Orbits (LPO). Classically theFloquet modes have been used to determine the¿vrequired to control the trajectory of a spacecraft around LPOs. However, they can alsobe used to describe the dynamics in a neighborhood of a reference LPO. In this paper we use the Floquet reference frame to compare thebehavior of two different stationkeeping strategies:x-axis velocity constraint at plane crossing vs the Floquet Mode. The first approachfinds the¿vrequired to cancel thexcomponent of the velocity vector at the crossing of the trajectory with they= 0plane, in the RotatingLibration Point frame. While the Floquet Mode approach finds the¿vthat cancels the unstable mode in the Floquet reference framePeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Geometrical analysis of station-keeping strategies about libration point orbits

Throughout the years, different strategies have been proposed for the station-keeping around the libration point orbits. In this paper, a geometrical comparative analysis is performed between different approaches making use of the Floquet modes reference frame. Two particular station-keeping procedures are considered: the commonly used velocity constraint at the plane crossing, and the Floquet mode approach. The first method finds the ¿v that ensures that the x component of the velocity vector is zero at a plane crossing, whereas the Floquet mode approach finds the ¿v that cancels the unstable mode in the Floquet reference frame. It will be seen that both approaches have some basic common geometrical features, even when they are compared using high-order techniques.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft