Interstellar Photon Sailing: Trajectory Errors Due to Sail Unfurlment Timing Delay

Gregory L. Matloff (2022), JBIS, 75, pp.150-152
Refcode: 2022.75.150

DOI: n/a

Abstract:

One method of launching space probes towards interstellar destinations is the application of solar-photon sails unfurled from the near-Sun perihelion of an initially parabolic solar orbit. One issue with this technique is trajectory direction errors caused by sail unfurlment timing delays. This paper quantifies such delays in a manner that can be readily applied by mission planners. A number of possible techniques that could be applied to the correction of these errors are also briefly considered.

Keywords: Solar Photon Sailing, Interstellar Probes, Sail Unfurlment Delay