Refined Analysis of Electric Sail-Based Displaced Orbits

This paper analyzes the performance of an electric solar wind sail for generating and maintaining a heliocentric circular displaced orbit. A similar problem has been already addressed in a previous research using a simplified mathematical model of the thruster performance. However, recent studies have proposed a more accurate algorithm for evaluating both the modulus and the direction of the propulsive thrust as a function of some important parameters related to the spacecraft attitude. Therefore, a reappraisal of the problem is motivated by the need of revising the past results taking into account the new information available on the propulsion system. Within this context, the paper focuses on circular displaced orbits that are characterized in terms of orbital period, heliocentric distance and elevation angle. The main results involve the evaluation of both the attitude configuration and the value of the spacecraft characteristic acceleration required for orbital maintenance.