a composites-based solar sail system for deep space small spacecraft
- Paper number
IAC-18,B4,8,13,x47489
- Author
Dr. William Wilkie, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Langley Research Center
- Coauthor
Dr. Jeannette Heiligers, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
- Coauthor
Mr. Darin Foreman, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Coauthor
Dr. Juan Fernandez, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Langley Research Center
- Coauthor
Dr. Olive Stohlman, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Langley Research Center
- Coauthor
Dr. Geoffrey Rose, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Langley Research Center
- Coauthor
Mr. Nigel Schneider, United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Coauthor
Dr. Jin Ho Kang, United States, National Institute of Aerospace
- Year
2018
- Abstract
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently begun investing in deployable structures and materials technologies for small satellite scaled applications. This effort is motivated, in part, to facilitate the use of CubeSat-class small satellites in future low-cost deep space missions. Recently, challenges associated with miniaturizing electric propulsion systems for long-duration (2.5 years or more) CubeSat-class deep space missions have generated renewed interest in solar sail propulsion systems. Solar sail performance considerations – namely, the desire for high characteristic acceleration - have incentivized development of several new NASA lightweight, high packaging efficiency deployable composite booms specifically intended for CubeSat-class missions. In this paper, we will describe ongoing development efforts for a new high-performance, small satellite solar sail propulsion system intended for 12U to 27U CubeSat-class deep space missions. An overview of the underlying high-strain composite boom technology, and related radiation-resistant polymer membrane technology development activities, will be presented. Development and testing of a composites-based ground demonstration solar sail system sized for a 6U form factor CubeSat will also be described. A proposed technology development roadmap to extend the 6U-sized solar sail system to future 12U and 27U CubeSat-class spacecraft will also be provided, including descriptions of several representative near-term small spacecraft solar sail mission concepts. These mission concepts include a 6U low Earth orbit solar sail risk reduction technology demonstration mission, targeted for launch in the 2020 timeframe, a 12U-27U concept for small body reconnaissance missions (e.g., Asteroid 2016 HO3), with launch in the 2023 launch timeframe, and a multiple-CubeSat small spacecraft Sun-Earth sub-L1 space solar weather monitoring mission, with launch in the 2023 or later timeframe. Extensibility of the composites-based small spacecraft solar sail technology to non-CubeSat form factor small satellite architectures will also be discussed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)