MISSION ANALYSIS OF A NEW SOLAR SAIL SATELLITE CONCEPT AT LOW EARTH ORBIT

POLAT H., TEKİNALP O.

AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2020, Virtual, Online, 9 - 12 Ağustos 2020, cilt.175, ss.2387-2406, (Tam Metin Bildiri) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Cilt numarası: 175
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Virtual, Online
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2387-2406
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Exploiting the propellant free maneuver capability of solar sail satellites for high resolution Earth observation mission is addressed with an elliptical low Earth orbit. The employed orbit has a low perigee altitude for observation and a high apogee altitude for orbit maneuvers. For the purpose of mission analysis of this new concept, a reference satellite configuration is designed with an aim to determine the technological readiness level based on the characteristic acceleration. Finally, a mission orbit parameter selection algorithm for a region of interest is developed based on observation performance metrics. The new concept is shown to be successful in carrying out propellant-free Earth observation.