In the future, people might use solar sails, large arrays that collect radiation pressure, to accelerate and propel spacecraft through the solar system instead of using chemical propellant. This article studies the possibility of using a solar sail to approach an asteroid and maintain a constant distance above the surface of the asteroid. The ideas proposed in this article could help plan future space missions to asteroids.

http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/article/view/1886