Abstract The main aim of this paper is to set up a many-parameter model of mass breakdown to be applied to a reusable Earth–Mars–Earth solar-photon sail shuttle, and analyze the system behavior in two sub-problems: (1) the zero-payload shuttle, and (2) given the sailcraft sail loading and the gross payload mass, find the sail area of the shuttle. The solution to the subproblem-1 is of technological and programmatic importance. The general analysis of subproblem-2 is presented as a function of the sail side length, system mass, sail loading and thickness. In addition to the behaviors of the main system masses, useful information for future work on the sailcraft trajectory optimization is obtained via (a) a detailed mass model for the descent/ascent Martian Excursion Module, and (b) the fifty–fifty solution to the sailcraft sail loading breakdown equation. Of considerable importance is the evaluation of the minimum altitude for the rendezvous between the ascent rocket vehicle and the solar-photon sail propulsion module, a task performed via the Mars Climate Database 2014–2015. The analysis shows that such altitude is 300km; below it, the atmospheric drag prevails over the solar-radiation thrust. By this value, an example of excursion module of 1500kg in total mass is built, and the sailcraft sail loading and the return payload are calculated. Finally, the concept of launch opportunity-wide for a shuttle driven by solar-photon sail is introduced. The previous fifty–fifty solution may be a good initial guess for the trajectory optimization of this type of shuttle.

    Highlights To analyze the problem of Earth–Mars–Earth solar-sail-based shuttle mass breakdown. To consider the special subproblem of the zero-payload shuttle. To consider the special subproblem of determining the shuttle sail area in general. To evaluate the min altitude where solar sailing in Mars ionosphere is efficacious. To introduce the concept of launch opportunity-wide for solar-photon sail shuttle.


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    Titel :

    Mass breakdown model of solar-photon sail shuttle: The case for Mars


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 119 ; 87-100


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2015-11-07


    Format / Umfang :

    14 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch





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