Simulation analysis of attitude-orbit-vibration coupling characteristics of the solar sail

The solar sail is a new type of spacecraft with high area-mass-ratio and large flexible structure, using solar radiation pressure (SRP) as the main method of spacecraft propulsion. The dynamical interactions among the attitude, the orbit and the vibration of the solar sail are the key challenges of the control system. The propose of this study which is carried out from the statics and dynamics perspective is to determine the effect of vibration on the SRP force and torque to support for the modeling and simplification of the dynamical model. Firstly, through the finite element method, the static analysis of the solar sail under SRP force is given, including the change of the SRP force under the characteristic deformation, the relationship between the maximum deformation of the flexible structure and the control torque, the relationship between the manufacturing bias and the SRP torque. Then the dynamical model of the flexible solar sail is established by the hybrid coordinate method. The neutral surface coupling deformations of the sail membrane and the support beam are taken into account in the model. The influence of the Vibration Deformation on Solar Sail Attitude and Orbit is studied. The main influence is manifested in the attitude and the secular changes in the orbit elements can't be ignored.