Session
Technical Session VII: 11th Annual Frank J. Redd Student Scholarship Competition
Abstract
Solar sailing is a proposed means of space propulsion in which a reflective surface collects momentum from solar photons to accelerate a vehicle. The current trend within the solar sailing community is to increase sail size as solar sailing technologies advance, allowing for larger payloads and higher accelerations. However, with the miniaturization of modern payloads, sail sizes can be dramatically reduced while still providing useful propulsion. These smaller micro-sails offer several advantages over larger sails, such as reduced cost and complexity and increased reliability and maneuverability. This paper examines the design of an Earth escape mission and micro-sail intended to improve access to the solar system and deep space, keeping a practical eye on cost, reliability, and feasibility of manufacture. The optimal sail configuration is evolved from this design study and simulated in Earth orbit; results show that a sail as small as 150 m2 can escape from a GTO carrying a 3 kg payload. Several examples of enabled missions are discussed.
Presentation Slides
Accessing the Solar System with a Small Solar Sail
Solar sailing is a proposed means of space propulsion in which a reflective surface collects momentum from solar photons to accelerate a vehicle. The current trend within the solar sailing community is to increase sail size as solar sailing technologies advance, allowing for larger payloads and higher accelerations. However, with the miniaturization of modern payloads, sail sizes can be dramatically reduced while still providing useful propulsion. These smaller micro-sails offer several advantages over larger sails, such as reduced cost and complexity and increased reliability and maneuverability. This paper examines the design of an Earth escape mission and micro-sail intended to improve access to the solar system and deep space, keeping a practical eye on cost, reliability, and feasibility of manufacture. The optimal sail configuration is evolved from this design study and simulated in Earth orbit; results show that a sail as small as 150 m2 can escape from a GTO carrying a 3 kg payload. Several examples of enabled missions are discussed.
