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Displaced Non-Keplerian Orbits for Sun and Inner Planet Observation

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Abstract

A displaced non-Keplerian orbit is a trajectory whose orbital plane does not contain the center of mass of the primary body, so that its orbital maintenance requires the application of a suitable continuous thrust. Although the latter could be provided, in principle, by a low-thrust electric propulsion system, innovative propellantless propulsive technologies are well suited to such a mission scenario, due to their ability to generate thrust without requiring any propellant, thus significantly extending mission lifetime. This chapter focuses on the possibility of maintaining a displaced non-Keplerian orbit by means of both solar sails and electric solar wind sails (or E-sails). In fact, these advanced propulsion systems are both capable of generating a propulsive acceleration without consuming any propellant, by exploiting the solar radiation pressure (in case of solar sails) or the solar wind dynamic pressure (E-sails). This analysis uses recent models to provide a mathematical description of the propulsive acceleration generated by both propulsion systems, and different scenarios involving non-Keplerian orbits are analyzed. Particular focus is given to Type II displaced orbits, non-Keplerian orbits lying on the ecliptic plane, and heliostationary positions. Performance and attitude requirements are provided for each scenario. A linear stability analysis is also performed, in order to identify the combination of orbital parameters that characterize stable non-Keplerian orbits. The results suggest the feasibility of the mission scenarios discussed, but for most of them performance requirements are very demanding. A possible exception is non-Keplerian orbits lying on the ecliptic, which represent a very promising near-term scenario.

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Abbreviations

CR3BP :

Circular restricted three-body problem

DNKO :

Displaced non-Keplerian orbit

E-sail :

Electric solar wind sail

L 1 :

First collinear Lagrangian point

PDFO :

Planet following displaced orbit

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Via G. Caruso 8, 56122, Pisa, Italy

    Lorenzo Niccolai, Alessandro A. Quarta & Giovanni Mengali

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  1. Lorenzo Niccolai
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  2. Alessandro A. Quarta
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  3. Giovanni Mengali
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Correspondence to Lorenzo Niccolai .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Candida Oancea Institute, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Viorel Badescu

  2. Honeybee Robotics, Altadena, CA, USA

    Kris Zacny

  3. California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Yoseph Bar-Cohen

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Niccolai, L., Quarta, A.A., Mengali, G. (2023). Displaced Non-Keplerian Orbits for Sun and Inner Planet Observation. In: Badescu, V., Zacny, K., Bar-Cohen, Y. (eds) Handbook of Space Resources. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97913-3_1

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