Session
Session VI: Student Scholarship Competition
Abstract
As deep space exploration progresses the need for efficient means of spacecraft propulsion are essential. Current research is proving solar sailing to be both a cost effective and feasible form of maneuvering small spacecraft. Historically, to avoid the effects of atmospheric drag, solar sails have been designed to escape Earth orbit from altitudes greater than 10,000 kilometers. To increase the versatility of solar sails and to take advantage of the more frequent secondary payload options on geosynchronous transfer orbit launches, a GTO capable solar sail is proposed. A solar sail capable of GTO flight would provide small organizations and universities a feasible and cost-effective alternative to traditional propulsion for deep space missions. This paper examines the problem of using traditional solar sail designs, square and heliogyro, in GTO’s by establishing a set of design requirements. The designs are evaluated based upon these requirements, and finally based upon the traditional sail’s poor performance a new hybrid solar sail is proposed that offers both high maneuverability and the ability to withstand the effects of low-altitude sailing.
Design Analysis for Solar Sailing from Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
As deep space exploration progresses the need for efficient means of spacecraft propulsion are essential. Current research is proving solar sailing to be both a cost effective and feasible form of maneuvering small spacecraft. Historically, to avoid the effects of atmospheric drag, solar sails have been designed to escape Earth orbit from altitudes greater than 10,000 kilometers. To increase the versatility of solar sails and to take advantage of the more frequent secondary payload options on geosynchronous transfer orbit launches, a GTO capable solar sail is proposed. A solar sail capable of GTO flight would provide small organizations and universities a feasible and cost-effective alternative to traditional propulsion for deep space missions. This paper examines the problem of using traditional solar sail designs, square and heliogyro, in GTO’s by establishing a set of design requirements. The designs are evaluated based upon these requirements, and finally based upon the traditional sail’s poor performance a new hybrid solar sail is proposed that offers both high maneuverability and the ability to withstand the effects of low-altitude sailing.
