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Solar sailing: mission applications and engineering challenges.

Colin R McInnes1

  • 1Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|December 12, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Solar sailing offers mass-free propulsion for ambitious space missions, enabling new orbits and scientific discoveries. Engineering challenges remain, but this advanced spacecraft propulsion is a promising technology for future exploration.

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Area of Science:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astrodynamics
  • Space Exploration

Background:

  • Solar sailing represents an advanced spacecraft propulsion technology.
  • It utilizes the momentum of solar photons for thrust, eliminating the need for reaction mass.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of solar sailing for enabling novel space-science mission concepts.
  • To identify new types of non-Keplerian orbits unique to solar sail propulsion.

Main Methods:

  • Exploitation of solar photon momentum for spacecraft propulsion.
  • Identification and analysis of novel non-Keplerian orbits enabled by solar sails.

Main Results:

  • Solar sails can perform high-energy orbit transfers without reaction mass.

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  • Missions like planetary-sample return, multiple small-body rendezvous, and fast outer Solar System trajectories are feasible with modest launch vehicles.
  • New families of highly non-Keplerian orbits, unique to solar sails, have been identified.

    • Conclusions:

    • Solar sailing presents significant opportunities for advanced space science missions.
    • The technology enables unique mission concepts and orbital dynamics.
    • Further engineering solutions are required to overcome current challenges for technological realization.