Applications and trajectory analysis of solar sail spacecraft. Use of the momentum from light from the Sun to find new dynamic regimes for spacecraft in interplanetary and interstellar travel. Combined effects of multi-body gravity fields and solar radiation pressure. Exploration of transfer trajectories to solar-sail orbits and control on those trajectories and orbits. Potential applications include:
- Sub-L1 (closer to the Sun) monitoring of solar storms
- Hover orbits for continual coverage of planetary poles
- Decreased interplanetary transfer times
- Hybrid solar-sail spacecraft with low-thrust engines