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BLISS: Interplanetary exploration with swarms of low-cost spacecraft.
- Source :
-
Acta Astronautica . Feb2024, Vol. 215, p348-361. 14p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Leveraging advancements in micro-scale technology, we propose a fleet of autonomous, low-cost, small solar sails for interplanetary exploration. The Berkeley Low-cost Interplanetary Solar Sail (BLISS) project aims to utilize small-scale technologies to create a fleet of tiny interplanetary spacecraft for rapid, low-cost exploration of the inner solar system. This paper describes the hardware required to build a ∼10 g spacecraft using a 1 m2 solar sail steered by micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) inchworm actuators. The trajectory control to a NEO, here 101955 Bennu, is detailed along with the low-level actuation control of the solar sail and the specifications of proposed onboard communication and computation. Two other applications are also shortly considered: sample return from dozens of Jupiter-family comets and cometary nuclei imaging. The paper concludes by discussing the fundamental scaling limits and future directions for steerable autonomous miniature solar sails with onboard custom computers and sensors. • An autonomous 10−2 kg spacecraft to navigate the solar system is proposed. • Low-cost spacecraft composed of mostly off-the-shelf parts to return images of NEOs. • Propelled by a 1 m2 solar sail controlled by micro-electromechanical systems motors. • Autonomous trajectory control to a NEO, communication, and computation is detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00945765
- Volume :
- 215
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Acta Astronautica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 174916395
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.11.027