Abstract:In this paper, we study relative motions of a light spacecraft equipped with a solar sail and tethered somehow to a heavy heliocentric orbital space station. One can say that such spacecraft realizes a kind of a coastal navigation. Formulating a model problem of the spacecraft motion, we state that if the sail can be oriented arbitrary then motions along a rectilinear tether are possible in both directions. Also, we present algorithm of the spacecraft relocation if it is joined with the station by a tether. Th… Show more
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