To guide a lunar probe with light pressure

Abstract

In the dynamical model of the circular restricted three-body problem and for launching a lunar probe from parking orbit, the minimum initial velocity should satisfy the condition that the Jacobian constant C is smaller than C 2 (in the Earth-Moon system, C 2 = 3.20034491). Then the probe may be accelerated to a speed of νv p > 10.8746 km/s at perigee (some 200 km high). However, this is only the necessary condition for the probe to fly to the moon and the voyage time is too long. If a Hohmann transfer orbit is adopted, a more impulse for the orbit transfer will be required, and in a sense more power will be consumed. If it is needed to carefully explore the environment of the Earth-Moon space and not to fly to the moon so quickly, then to the base of the above minimum velocity the probe can be guided faster to the moon with light pressure. For this reason, a large solar energy sail with a special normal needs to be installed on the probe. In this way, the purpose of exploring the Earth-Moon space can be attained and the flight will not spend a very long time. The results of computations show that the above-stated plan is effective. If the section area of the solar energy sail is large enough (provided that it can be implemented by techniques), then without any power the probe can be guided to the moon with light pressure just like a space sailboat.