Solar sailing offers the possibility of low-cost long-distance missions, impossible for any other type of conventional spacecraft. The book provides a detailed account of solar sailing, at a high technical level but in a way accessible to the scientifically informed layman. Solar sail orbital dynamics and solar radiation pressure form the foundations of the book, but the engineering design of solar sails is also considered, along with potential mission applications. This book introduces the subject and at the same time provides a technical reference source.
Table of Contents
Ch. 1: Introduction to solar sailing
Ch. 2: Solar radiation
Ch. 3: Solar sail design
Ch. 4: Solar sail orbital dynamics
Ch. 5: Non-Keplerian orbits
Ch. 6: Mission application case studies
Ch. 7: Laser-driven light sails