Solar Sailing for Deep-Space Explorations: Orbit Design, Station Keeping, and Formation Flying

This book focuses on the solar sailing technique and investigates in detail its applications for deep-space explorations focusing on the Earth-Moon, Sun-Earth and Sun-planet systems. Solar sailing is an advanced and propellent-free form of low-thrust propulsion, and therefore, a perfect option for energy-demanding and long-duration space missions. This book covers the topics on non-Keplerian orbit designs, low-thrust station-keeping, and spacecraft formation flying using solar sailing from, in particular, the perspectives of dynamics and control. Given its breadth of coverage, the book offers a valuable reference guide for researchers and engineers who are interested in the solar sailing technique and, in particular, its dynamics and control in deep-space exploration missions.