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Virginia Tech
Investigation of a more optimum trajectory than the logarithmic spiral in solar sailing
Abstract
dc:description.abstractA logarithmic spiral trajectory is not the optimum trajectory for a solar sailing space vehicle. Investigation of the governing equations showed that the performance of the solar sail depends on one parameter "a". This parameter "a", defined simply as the ratio of radial to tangential forces, was seen to be significant for two reasons: first, the logarithmic spiral is restricted to values of a = 2 √ 2 ; secondly, decreased values of "a" indicate better performance characteristics. For values of a < 2 √ 2 a new trajectory was generated and found to be more efficient than any logarithmic spiral trajectory.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Aerospace Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Aerospace Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 1961
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- West, Thomas Cato
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Hassan, Hassan A.
- Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Eades, James B. Jr.
Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-08012012-040127
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44049