1. Demonstrations of Deployable Systems for Robotic Precursor Missions
- Author
-
Dervan, J, Johnson, L, Lockett, T, Carr, J, and Boyd, D
- Subjects
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration ,Energy Production And Conversion ,Spacecraft Propulsion And Power - Abstract
NASA is developing thin-film based, deployable propulsion, power, and communication systems for small spacecraft that serve as enabling technologies for exploration of the solar system. By leveraging recent advancements in thin films, photovoltaics, deployment systems, and miniaturized electronics, new mission-level capabilities will be demonstrated aboard small spacecraft enabling a new generation of frequent, inexpensive, and highly capable robotic precursor missions with goals extensible to future human exploration. Specifically, thin-film technologies are allowing the development and use of solar sails for propulsion, small, lightweight photovoltaics for power, and omnidirectional antennas for communication as demonstrated by recent advances on the Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout and Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna (LISA-T) projects.
- Published
- 2017