Hybrid solar sail and solar electric propulsion for novel Earth observation missions

In this paper we propose a pole-sitter spacecraft hybridising solar electric propulsion (SEP) and solar sailing. The intriguing concept of a hybrid propulsion spacecraft is attractive: by combining the two forms of propulsion, the drawbacks of the two systems cancel each other, potentially enabling propellant mass saving, increased reliability, versatility and lifetime over the two independent systems. This almost completely unexplored concept will be applied to the continuous monitoring of the Earth's polar regions through a pole-sitter, i.e. a spacecraft that is stationary above one pole of the Earth. The continuous, hemispherical, real-time view of the pole will enable a wide range of new applications for Earth observation and telecommunications. In this paper, families of 1-year-periodic, minimum-propellant orbits are found, for different values of the sail lightness number and distance from the pole. The optimal control problem is solved using a pseudo-spectral method. The process gives a reference control to maintain these orbits. In addition, for stability issues, a feedback control is designed to guarantee station-keeping in the presence of injection errors, sail degradation and temporary SEP failure. Results show that propellant mass can be saved using a medium-sized solar sail. Finally, it is shown that the feedback control is able to maintain the spacecraft on-track with only minimal additional effort from the SEP thruster.

► A hybrid solar sail/SEP spacecraft is proposed for continuous Earth polar observation. ► Optimal orbits are found to minimise propellant consumption and maximise lifetime. ► A feedback controller is designed using the SEP thruster only. ► The controller keeps the spacecraft on nominal orbit with minimum effort. ► Injection errors and sail degradation are easily counteracted.