Optimal interplanetary trajectories for Sun-facing ideal diffractive sails

Abstract A diffractive sail is a solar whose exposed surface covered by an advanced metamaterial film with engineered optical properties. This study examines the optimal performance of Sun-facing attitude in typical orbit-to-orbit heliocentric transfer. attitude, which can be passively maintained through suitable design shape, obtained when nominal plane perpendicular to Sun–spacecraft line. Unlike ideal reflective sail, generates large transverse thrust component that effectively exploited change orbital angular momentum. Using recent model, this determines control law and simulates minimum transfer times for set interplanetary mission scenarios. It also quantifies difference between sail. case presents results potential asteroid 16 Psyche.