Blending optimal algorithm for heliocentric solar sailing

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to design a solar sail heliocentric transfer orbit which can meet the requirements of control system and capture orbit, and to provide the change of angles for attitude control system. Design/methodology/approach - Aiming at the problem of solar sail heliocentric transfer orbits design, this paper addresses the derivation of analytical optimal control law. The control laws can realize the combination of the control of each orbit element, but they can only give local optimal solution to meet the practical needs of mission. In order to solve this problem and meet the capture orbit and the attitude control system requirements, the modified genetic algorithm based on the analytical control law is introduced. Findings - The algorithm addressed by this paper includes results closer to the global optimization, and also can meet the engineering constraints. Practical implications - The analytical optimal control law can be applied to the future onboard sail control systems. The blending optimal algorithm is demonstrated to be suitable as a method of preliminary design for solar sail deep space exploration mission. Originality/value - A blending optimal algorithm combining the analytical control law and genetic algorithm is proposed; the algorithm can search for global optimization based on the local optimal results of analytical control law.