Robust Attitude Control Systems Design for Solar Sails (Part 2): MicroPPT-based Backup ACS

Abstract

A secondary attitude control system (ACS) of utilizing tip-mounted, lightweight pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) is developed for near-term solar sails. Such a secondary ACS can be employed for attitude recovery maneuvers from various offnominal conditions, including tumbling, that cannot be handled by a propellantless primary ACS (described in the companion paper). The microPPT-based ACS can also be employed for the spin stabilization of sailcraft as well as as a backup to the conventional ACS of sail carrier spacecraft prior to sail deployment as well as during pre-flight sail checkout operation. An overview of the state-of-the-art microPPT technology, PPT performance requirements for solar sails, and pulse-modulated PPT control design and simulation results are presented in this paper.