Rotary solar sail for nanosatellite constellation formation

Paper number

IAC-19,C4,6,7,x52669

Author

Dr. Vera Mayorova, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Mr. Stepan Tenenbaum, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Mr. Dmitry Rachkin, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Mr. Oleg Kotsur, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Ms. Valeriia Melnikova, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Mr. Dmitry Romanenko, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Mr. Kirill Frolov, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Ms. Veronika Pavlyuchenko, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Ms. Victoria Goryunova, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Coauthor

Ms. Adelina Gataulina, Russian Federation, Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Year

2019

Abstract

One of the most relevant trends in nanosatellite technologies development is constellation formation and it providing its sustainability. In order the project we propose to use a unit with a two-blade rotary solar sail for low Earth orbit nanosatellite constellation formation.

We developed an original algorithm for constellation formation based on alternate folding and unfolding of the sail, which is integrated into each satellite of the constellation.

A large number of ballistic simulations was carried out and confirmed the technical feasibility of this technology. During the calculations, the following time for constellation formation dependencies were identified:
⁃ from the height and inclination of the initial orbit,
⁃ from the number of nanosatellites in the constellation;
⁃ from the area of the solar sail.
Various cases of the orientation of the solar sail were also considered.

Moreover, we designed the unified Solar Sail unit for the CubeSat, produced its fully functional mock-up and made the experiment of the sail deploying due to centrifugal forces during rotation in the vacuum chamber.

The research results became the basis of the project of creating a real nanosatellites system for Sun observation that is planned to launch in 2020.

Abstract document

IAC-19,C4,6,7,x52669.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-19,C4,6,7,x52669.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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