Sun-synchronous solar reflector orbits designed to warm Mars

• Published in: Astrophysics and space science Vol. 364; no. 9; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Salazar, F. J. T., Winter, O. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-09-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astrobiology; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Climate system; Cosmology; Inclination; Mars; Mars climate; Mars environment; Observations and Techniques; Orbital mechanics; Orbits; Original Article; Oxidation; Perturbation; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Pressure effects; Radiation pressure; Solar radiation; Solar reflectors; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Sun; Terraforming; Two body problem; Terraforming scheme; Sun synchronous orbits; oblateness perturbation; Mars climate engineering; Solar reflectors
• ISSN: 0004-640X; 1572-946X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10509-019-3633-x

Although the Martian environment is very cold (averaging about
−
60
∘
C), highly oxidizing and desiccated, several studies have proposed human colonization of Mars. To carry out this ambitious goal, terraforming schemes have been designed to warm Mars and implant Earth-like life. Mars climate engineering includes the use of orbiting solar reflectors to increase the total solar insolation. In this study, Sun-synchronous solar reflectors orbits with inclination equal or less than 
90
∘
with respect to the orbital plane of Mars are considered to intervene with the Mars’ climate system. With different inclinations, a family of Sun-synchronous solar reflectors orbits distributes azimuthally the energy intercepted by the reflector. The two-body problem is considered, and the Gauss’s form of the variational equations is used to find the conditions to achieve a Sun-synchronous frozen orbit with inclination equal or less than 
90
∘
, taking into account the effects of solar radiation pressure for a perfectly reflecting space mirror and Mars’
J
2
oblateness perturbation.