Idea Solar sailing MFD, and more vessels with solar sails

[Jarvitä]

Just putting it out there...

Orbiter 2010 now simulates radiation pressure. I think this is a wonderful new feature and personally can't wait to see it exploited by addon developers.

Predicted features - some of them may overlap between a "solar sail MFD" and potential addons of vessels with solar sails:

-Calculating the required orientation to achieve the perfect balance between the direction of acceleration and the solar angle
-Plotting constant-burn trajectories (using data from TransX/IMFD?)
-Using flexible, controllable solar sails for attitude control
-Deployment and shape maintanance by spin stabilisation?

 

[Bloodworth]

Personally I would LOVE to see the Gloria Coelis from "Glorys War". A most epic solar sailing vessel if ever there was one.

 

[Hartmann]

The most important thing is the MFD that supports constant-burn trajectories, like solar sails or ion engines.0

 

[Izack]

Or VASIMR?

 

[mc_]

I think,that solar sailing vessel must be avaiable "packed". It will be fun to launch a ship from Earth (on some LV), then deploy sails and go to interplanetary travel.

 

[Bloodworth]

Sorry about the necropost, just wanted to add a couple of pics of the Gloria Coelis.

 

[Izack]

Sorry about the necropost, just wanted to add a couple of pics of the Gloria Coelis.

I don't think that's the kind of sail they meant...:lol:

 

[River Crab]

I think,that solar sailing vessel must be avaiable "packed". It will be fun to launch a ship from Earth (on some LV), then deploy sails and go to interplanetary travel.

I'd love to see IKAROS simulated in Orbiter. Just a dream, but it IS the first.

Sorry about the necropost, just wanted to add a couple of pics of the Gloria Coelis.

That's not Necro. When I was really new here I made a 2 YEAR necropost. That's Necro-fantasy, I believe.

 

[Bloodworth]

I don't think that's the kind of sail they meant...:lol:

*shrug* Was worth a shot. I'd love to see somebody "attempt" to model the Gloria. Sadly I don't think it's possible within the confines of orbiter as the ship is 20 km in length. Still, it's a great series, and well worth the read.

 

[Izack]

Sadly I don't think it's possible within the confines of orbiter as the ship is 20 km in length.

Well, if [ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4581"]this[/ame] and [ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3743"]this[/ame] work, it can't be that hard.

 

[Bloodworth]

Holy COW!!! This gives me some hope for the Flamberge

 

[BrianJ]

I'd love to see IKAROS simulated in Orbiter.

Me too!

 

[jedidia]

I support the notion for at least a constont low thrust navigation tool. Really, it's the one near-future tech with the most promise, and we can't use it properly in orbiter, that is kind of sad.

I'd even be willing to help with the legwork for the mfd, but someone has to do the math!
So, if someone just comes up with a library that can calculate continous burns, I commit myself to put it into an MFD, that's all I can offer. Not quite sure where to take the time from, but I could put Orbiter Galaxy on a short break once version 0.6 is running stable, and I really want such an MFD!

 

[BrianJ]

I support the notion for at least a constont low thrust navigation tool. Really, it's the one near-future tech with the most promise, and we can't use it properly in orbiter, that is kind of sad.

I'd even be willing to help with the legwork for the mfd, but someone has to do the math!
So, if someone just comes up with a library that can calculate continous burns, I commit myself to put it into an MFD, that's all I can offer. Not quite sure where to take the time from, but I could put Orbiter Galaxy on a short break once version 0.6 is running stable, and I really want such an MFD!

Maybe this is useful? (it's way over my head!)...
http://trajectory.grc.nasa.gov/tools/chebytop.shtml

 

[jedidia]

Maybe this is useful? (it's way over my head!)...

:lol:

I looked at this same paper something like 2 years ago, and it's way over my head too. That's just the problem... I can offer my help to do the MFD itself (because that's quite a tedious and time consuming task too, I know that) but I can't do the math. I'll need a complete library with all the mathematical functions that do the actual calculations. In other words, all I can offer is my help to implement someones hard work into orbiter...

 

[Linguofreak]

I have the feeling that a solar sail would probably need its own MFD, not just a generic "continuous burn" MFD, because of the peculiar properties of solar sails (Thrust depending on orientation and distance from the sun, and so forth).

 

[Hartmann]

I have the feeling that a solar sail would probably need its own MFD, not just a generic "continuous burn" MFD, because of the peculiar properties of solar sails (Thrust depending on orientation and distance from the sun, and so forth).

Or a mfd with the two propulsion metods included as an option . for example for an hibrid spacecraft

 

[Izack]

Or a mfd with the two propulsion metods included as an option . for example for an hibrid spacecraft

Yes, it looks like any solar sail would need some secondary propulsion, for two reasons.
1. Far enough away from the Sun, there simply isn't enough pressure for thrust.
2. Inward trajectories. It is impossible to thrust against the Sun with a sail, same as you can't sail against the wind (not effectively, at least.)

 

[River Crab]

Kind of off topic, but you can sail into the sun. Just angle the sail so the light is reflected retrograde.

 

[Izack]

Kind of off topic, but you can sail into the sun. Just angle the sail so the light is reflected retrograde.

Ah yes, to go faster, slow down. What am I thinking? :lol:

It would make certain 'burns' difficult though, if it were impossible to thrust at less than 90 degrees to the Sun. Sort of limits your options.


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