Abstract
The dynamics of solar sails with a variable surface reflectivity distribution are investigated. When changing the reflectivity across the sail film, solar radiation pressure forces and torques can be controlled without changing the attitude of the spacecraft relative to the Sun or using attitude control actuators. The reflectivity can in principle be modified using electro-chromic coatings, which are applied here as examples to counteract gravity-gradient torques in Earth orbit and to enable specific shape profiles of a flexible sail film. This ‘optical reconfiguration’ method introduces an adaptive solar sail as a multi-functional platform for novel mission applications.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
C. R. McInnes, “Solar sailing: technology, dynamics and mission applications”, Springer-Praxis books in astronautical engineering, ed. J. Mason, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999. ISBN: 3-540-21062-8
C. R. McInnes, “Delivering fast and capable missions to the outer solar system”, Advances in Space Research, vol. 34, n. 1, p. 184-191, 2004. DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2003.02.063
H. Demiryont, D. Moorehead, “Electrochromic emissivity modulator for spacecraft thermal management”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 93, n. 12, p. 2075-2078, 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2009.02.025
S. Timoshenko, S. Woinowsky-Krieger, “Theory of plates and shells”, McGraw-Hill, 1959.
D. W. Sleight, D. M. Muheim, “Parametric studies of square solar sails using finite element analysis”, in Proceedings of Collect. of Pap. - 45th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Struct., Struct. Dyn. and Mater. Conf.; 12th AIAA/ASME/AHS Adapt. Struct. Conf.; 6th AIAA Non-Deterministic Approaches Forum; 5th AIAA Gossamer Spacecraft Forum, April 19, 2004 - April 22, 2004, Palm Springs, CA, United states, 2004.
H. Schaub, J. L. Junkins, “Anayltical Mechanics of Space Systems”, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2009. ISBN: 9781600867217
E. Ventsel, T. Krauthammer, “Thin Plates and Shells: Theory: Analysis, and Applications”, Taylor & Francis, 2001. ISBN: 9780824705756
R. R. Craig, “Mechanics of Materials”, John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN: 9780470481813
J. A. Voorthuyzen, P. Bergveld, “The influence of tensile forces on the deflection of circular diaphragms in pressure sensors”, Sensors and Actuators, vol. 6, n. 3, p. 201-213, 1984. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0250-6874(84)80021-9
M. J. D. Sheplak, “Large Deflections of Clamped Circular Plates Under Initial Tension and Transitions to Membrane Behavior”, Journal of Applied Mechanics, Transactions ASME, vol. 65, n. 1, p. 107-115, 1998. DOI: 10.1115/1.2789012
L. F. Shampine, I. Gladwell, S. Thompson, “Solving ODEs with MATLAB”, Cambridge University Press, 2003. ISBN: 9780521530941
F. Couceiro, P. V. Gamboa, J. M. Silva, A. D. Guerman, “Configuration of a thin circular membrane subject to solar pressure”, in Proceedings of 2012 International Conference on Spacecraft Structures, Materials and Mechanical Testing, ICSSMMT 2012, December 27, 2012 - December 28, 2012, Xiamen, China, 2013. DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.290.47
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant VISIONSPACE: Orbital Dynamics at Extremes of Spacecraft Length-Scale (227571).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Borggräfe, A., Heiligers, J., Ceriotti, M., McInnes, C.R. (2014). Distributed Reflectivity Solar Sails for Extended Mission Applications. In: Macdonald, M. (eds) Advances in Solar Sailing. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34907-2_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34907-2_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-34906-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-34907-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)