Orientation control of a low-thrust propulsion extraterrestrial vehicle to maintain solar alignment

A vehicle capable of operating in space, the vehicle comprising:

• a memory that stores computer-executable instructions;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• generate an attitude profile of the vehicle during an orbital transfer, wherein the attitude profile identifies a direction for a first vector and a second vector, wherein the first vector is associated with a positioning of the vehicle to allow for solar panels of the vehicle to receive sunlight;
• identify, from the attitude profile, a snap-roll event, the snap-roll event is a violation event in which movement of the vehicle violates a body-frame angular rate constraint, wherein the snap-roll event is identified based on the first vector and the second vector being in substantial alignment;
• identify a plurality of control points along a trajectory of the vehicle during the snap-roll event;
• and
• adjust angular velocity of the vehicle at a first control point in the plurality of control points, wherein a first angular velocity of the vehicle at the first control point exceeds a maximum angular velocity of the vehicle.