Sun-Synchronous Highly Elliptical Orbits Using Low-Thrust Propulsion

Anderson, Pamela; Macdonald, Malcolm

doi:10.2514/1.59848

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Investigation has therefore previously been conducted into the use of a solar sail to deliver a sun-synchronous orbit around Mercury [9]. This paper extends methods previously introduced by the authors for the extension of Earth orbits [10,11] to; extend existing highly-elliptical orbits at Mars, Mercury and Venus; extend sun-synchronous orbits around Mars; and enable sun-synchronous orbits at Mercury and Venus where they are otherwise not possible, as such significantly enhancing the opportunities for remote sensing of these bodies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Novel orbits of Mercury, Venus and Mars enabled using low-thrust propulsion

2014

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Exploration of the inner planets of the Solar System is vital to significantly enhance the understanding of the formulation of the Earth and other planets. This paper therefore considers the development of novel orbits of Mars, Mercury and Venus to enhance the opportunities for remote sensing of these planets. Continuous acceleration is used to extend the critical inclination of highly elliptical orbits at each planet and is shown to require modest thrust magnitudes. This paper also presents the extension of existing sun-synchronous orbits around Mars. However, unlike Earth and Mars, natural sun-synchronous orbits do not exist at Mercury or Venus. This research therefore also uses continuous acceleration to enable circular and elliptical sun-synchronous orbits, by ensuring that the orbit's nodal precession rate matches the planets mean orbital rate around the Sun, such that the lighting along the ground-track remains approximately constant over the mission duration. This property is useful both in terms of spacecraft design, due to the constant thermal conditions, and for comparison of images. Considerably high thrust levels are however required to enable these orbits, which are prohibitively high for orbits with inclinations around 901. These orbits therefore require some development in electric propulsion systems before becoming feasible

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Novel orbits of Mercury, Venus and Mars enabled using low-thrust propulsion

2014

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“…The scientific case considers the impact of observation from a highly elliptical orbit on meteorological and climatological requirements currently addressed from polar-orbiting instruments. In addition to consideration of well-known natural critical-inclination orbits (e.g., Molniya orbits), the paper presents and discusses the properties of "Taranis" orbits, which use low-thrust propulsion to maintain a Keplerian orbit away from the natural critical-inclination [9][10][11][12][13]. The paper addresses whether Taranis orbits add extra value relative to natural criticalinclination orbits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Concepts for a geostationary-like polar missions

et al. 2014

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An evidence-led scientific case for development of a space-based polar remote sensing platform at geostationary-like (GEO-like) altitudes is developed through methods including a data user survey. Whilst a GEO platform provides a near static perspective, multiple platforms are required to provide circumferential coverage. Systems for achieving GEO-like polar observation likewise require multiple platforms however the perspective is non-stationery. A key choice is between designs that provide complete polar view from a single platform at any given instant, and designs where this is obtained by compositing partial views from multiple sensors. Users foresee an increased challenge in extracting geophysical information from composite images and consider the use of non-composited images advantageous. Users also find the placement of apogee over the pole to be preferable to the alternative scenarios. Thus, a clear majority of data users find the “Taranis” orbit concept to be better than a critical inclination orbit, due to the improved perspective offered. The geophysical products that would benefit from a GEO-like polar platform are mainly estimated from radiances in the visible/near infrared and thermal parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is consistent with currently proven technologies from GEO. Based on the survey results, needs analysis, and current technology proven from GEO, scientific and observation requirements are developed along with two instrument concepts with eight and four channels, based on Flexible Combined Imager heritage. It is found that an operational system could, mostly likely, be deployed from an Ariane 5 ES to a 16-hour orbit, while a proof-of-concept system could be deployed from a Soyuz launch to the same orbit

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“…This paper investigates the possibility of generating nearly polar heliosynchronous eccentric orbits around Venus. A heliosynchronous orbit is characterized by a precession of the node line equal to the mean motion of the planet around the Sun [1]. Although the planet oblateness usually induces a secular variation of the right ascension of the ascending node when the orbit is nearly polar [2], such a precession may be insufficient and, therefore, a propulsion system is necessary to achieve the desired precession rate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Docherty and Macdonald [4] investigated the analytical solution of low-thrust transfer trajectories between heliosynchronous orbits. Moreover, Anderson and Macdonald [1] developed heliosynchronous and highly elliptical orbits, in which the required thrust magnitude is given as a function of the local perturbations acting on the spacecraft. Finally, Wu et al [5] developed heliosynchronous orbits around terrestrial planets using solar electric propulsion for the exploration of planet surface and atmosphere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Venus-Centered Heliosynchronous Orbits with Smart Dusts

Bassetto

Mengali

Quarta

2019

Aerotec. Missili Spaz.

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This paper deals with the problem of determining an analytical control law capable of maintaining highly-elliptical heliosynchronous polar orbits around Venus. The problem is addressed using the Smart Dust concept, a propellantless propulsion system that extracts momentum from the solar rays using a reflective coating. The modulation of the thrust magnitude is performed by exploiting the property of electrochromic materials of changing their optical characteristics through the application of an electrical voltage. The propulsive acceleration can therefore be switched from a minimum to a maximum value (o vice versa) so as to obtain a simple on-off control law. The required Smart Dust performance are described in closed form as a function of the semimajor axis and eccentricity of the working orbit. The soundness of the analytical control law is validated through a numerical integration of the equations of motion, in which the orbital perturbations due to the oblateness of Venus and to the gravitational attraction of the Sun are also included.

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Sun-Synchronous Highly Elliptical Orbits Using Low-Thrust Propulsion

Cited by 6 publications

References 8 publications

Novel orbits of Mercury, Venus and Mars enabled using low-thrust propulsion

Novel orbits of Mercury, Venus and Mars enabled using low-thrust propulsion

Concepts for a geostationary-like polar missions

Venus-Centered Heliosynchronous Orbits with Smart Dusts

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