NASA NTRS · 19760060161
Optimum solar-sail interplanetary trajectories
Abstract
A description is given of the optimization of solar-sail interplanetary trajectories. The optimization procedure is based on the calculus of variations. Attention is given to aspects of thrust optimization, optimization criteria, a terrestrial planet rendezvous, the Venus and Mars rendezvous, the Mercury rendezvous, and an asteroid roundtrip mission. The investigation shows that a solar-sail spacecraft represents a viable option for the exploration of the solar system in the future.
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Sauer, C. G., Jr.. 1976-08-01. Optimum solar-sail interplanetary trajectories. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19760060161
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