Solar Radiation Pressure

Author: Tianjiang Shuo

Website: https://cislunarspace.cn

Definition

The pressure exerted by solar photons on a spacecraft surface, causing long-term orbital drift.

Application Value

Solar Radiation Pressure is a key perturbation factor affecting the orbital lifetime and positioning accuracy of cislunar spacecraft. In LTO (Lunar Transfer Orbit) and L2 missions, the cumulative radiation pressure effect can cause target orbit deviations ranging from hundreds to thousands of meters. Mission design requires precise modeling of the solar pressure Area-to-Mass Ratio and orbital maintenance maneuvers to compensate for this systematic drift. For large thin-film spacecraft or high area-to-mass payloads, radiation pressure perturbation is particularly significant.

Related Concepts

• Solar Radiation Pressure Perturbation
• Orbital Perturbation
• Restricted Three-Body Problem
• Libration Point

References

• Gómez et al. 2001, Ch.3。