METHOD OF ACCELERATION OF SPACECRAFT BY MEANS OF SOLAR SAIL Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: control of motion of spacecraft through control of thrust created by pressure of solar sail. SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes opening of solar sail on active leg of flight and folding it on passive leg of flight. Receiving surface of sail is oriented normally relative to radiant flux, thus ensuring static stability of flying vehicle in this flux. On passive leg of flight, sail is folded in star pattern, thus realizing "ball" inertia tensor and dampening disturbances of spacecraft relative to center of mass. Longitudinal twisting of spacecraft arising due to asymmetry of its construction is counteracted on both legs of flight. To this end, pair of forces is applied to spacecraft around its longitudinal axis, thus forming propelling effect by means of extended solar ailerons. EFFECT: increased orbital velocity of spacecraft irrespective of precession and deformation of orbit due to different disturbing factors. 5 dwg