Feasibility study of a solar power satellite system configured by formation flying

Abstract

This paper presents a new concept of a solar power satellite system configured by formation flying (Fig. 1). In this concept, the solar power satellite system consists of sunlight reflectors and an energy generator–transmitter. The energy generator– transmitter is on a common GEO, and the reflectors are placed on the north and south by using solar pressure to raise their orbits from GEO. Therefore, the orbits of the reflectors and that of the energy generator–transmitter make three parallel GEOs. The feasibility of the concept and its requirements are also discussed, focusing on the orbital and attitude mechanics of the reflector. Because the tilt angle of the sunlight changes with the turning of the seasons, it is sometimes necessary to raise the orbit by thrusters especially around the solstice. For attitude dynamics, spin stabilization and thruster control are discussed as the attitude control strategies against the gravity gradient torque, which acts as a persistent periodic disturbance.