AI Chat Paper
Discover the SciOpen Platform and Achieve Your Research Goals with Ease.
This study examines the impact of electric solar wind sail (E-sail) parameters on the attitude stability of E-sail's central spacecraft by using a comprehensive rigid-flexible coupling dynamic model. In this model, the nodal position finite element method is used to model the elastic deformation of the tethers through interconnected two-node tensile elements. The attitude dynamics of the central spacecraft is described using a natural coordinate formulation. The rigid-flexible coupling between the central spacecraft and its flexible tethers is established using Lagrange multipliers. Our research reveals the significant influences of parameters such as tether numbers, tether's electric potential, and solar wind velocity on attitude stability. Specifically, solar wind fluctuations and the distribution of electric potential on the main tethers considerably affect the attitude stability of the spacecraft. For consistent management, the angular velocities of the spacecraft must remain at target values. Moreover, the attitude stability of a spacecraft has a pronounced dependence on the geometrical configuration of the E-sail, with axisymmetric E-sails proving to be more stable.
Janhunen, P. Electric sail for spacecraft propulsion. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2004, 20(4): 763–764.
Janhunen, P., Sandroos, A. Simulation study of solar wind push on a charged wire: Basis of solar wind electric sail propulsion. Annales Geophysicae, 2007, 25(3): 755–767.
Bassetto, M., Niccolai, L., Quarta, A. A., Mengali, G. A comprehensive review of Electric Solar Wind Sail concept and its applications. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 2022, 128: 100768.
Bassetto, M., Mengali, G., Quarta, A. A. Attitude dynamics of an electric sail model with a realistic shape. Acta Astronautica, 2019, 159: 250–257.
Janhunen, P. Photonic spin control for solar wind electric sail. Acta Astronautica, 2013, 83: 85–90.
Janhunen, P., Toivanen, P. K., Polkko, J., Merikallio, S., Salminen, P., Haeggström, E., Seppänen, H., Kurppa, R., Ukkonen, J., Kiprich, S., et al. Electric solar wind sail: Toward test missions. The Review of Scientific Instruments, 2010, 81(11): 111301.
Toivanen, P. K., Janhunen, P. Spin plane control and thrust vectoring of electric solar wind sail. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2012, 29(1): 178–185.
Bassetto, M., Quarta, A. A., Mengali, G., Cipolla, V. Spiral trajectories induced by radial thrust with applications to generalized sails. Astrodynamics, 2021, 5(2): 121–137.
Mengali, G., Quarta, A. A. Non-Keplerian orbits for electric sails. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 2009, 105: 179–195.
Quarta, A. A., Mengali, G. Electric sail mission analysis for outer solar system exploration. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2010, 33(3): 740–755.
Du, C., Zhu, Z., Li, G. Rigid–flexible coupling effect on attitude dynamics of electric solar wind sail. Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 2021, 95: 105663.
Pacheco-Ramos, G., Garcia-Vallejo, D., Vazquez, R. Formulation of a high-fidelity multibody dynamical model for an electric solar wind sail. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2023, 256: 108466.
Du, C., Zhu, Z., Li, G. Analysis of thrust-induced sail plane coning and attitude motion of electric sail. Acta Astronautica, 2021, 178: 129–142.
Toivanen, P. K., Janhunen, P. Electric sailing under observed solar wind conditions. Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions, 2009, 5(1): 61–69.
Caruso, A., Niccolai, L., Mengali, G., Quarta, A. A. Electric sail trajectory correction in presence of environmental uncertainties. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2019, 94: 105395.
Du, C., Zhu, Z. Dynamic characterization and sail angle control of electric solar wind sail by high-fidelity tether dynamics. Acta Astronautica, 2021, 189: 504–513.
Zhao, C., Huo, M., Qi, J., Cao, S., Zhu, D., Sun, L., Sun, H., Qi, N. Coupled attitude-vibration analysis of an E-sail using absolute nodal coordinate formulation. Astrodynamics, 2020, 4(3): 249–263.
Li, G., Zhu, Z., Du, C., Meguid, S. A. Characteristics of coupled orbital-attitude dynamics of flexible electric solar wind sail. Acta Astronautica, 2019, 159: 593–608.
Du, C. G., Zhu, Z. H., Kang, J. J. Attitude control and stability analysis of electric sail. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 2022, 58(6): 5560–5570.
Ren, H., Yang, K. A referenced nodal coordinate formulation. Multibody System Dynamics, 2021, 51(3): 305–342.
Liu, F., Hu, Q., Liu, Y. Attitude dynamics of electric sail from multibody perspective. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2018, 41(12): 2633–2646.
Zeng, S., Fan, W., Ren, H. Attitude control for a full-scale flexible electric solar wind sail spacecraft on heliocentric and displaced non-Keplerian orbits. Acta Astronautica, 2023, 211: 734–749.
Ren, H., Yuan, T., Huo, M., Zhao, C., Zeng, S. Dynamics and control of a full-scale flexible electric solar wind sail spacecraft. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2021, 119: 107087.
Liu, C., Tian, Q., Hu, H., García-Vallejo, D. Simple formulations of imposing moments and evaluating joint reaction forces for rigid–flexible multibody systems. Nonlinear Dynamics, 2012, 69: 127–147.
De Jalón, J. G. Twenty-five years of natural coordinates. Multibody System Dynamics, 2007, 18(1): 15–33.
Huo, M., Mengali, G., Quarta, A. A. Electric sail thrust model from a geometrical perspective. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2017, 41(3): 735–741.
Janhunen, P., Quarta, A. A., Mengali, G. Electric solar wind sail mass budget model. Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems, 2013, 2(1): 85–95.
