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NanoSail-D: A solar sail demonstration mission
- Source :
-
Acta Astronautica . Mar2011, Vol. 68 Issue 5/6, p571-575. 5p. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Abstract: In the early to mid-2000s, NASA made substantial progress in the development of solar sail propulsion systems. Solar sail propulsion uses the solar radiation pressure exerted by the momentum transfer of reflected photons to generate a net force on a spacecraft. To date, solar sail propulsion systems were designed for large robotic spacecraft. Recently, however, NASA has been investigating the application of solar sails for small satellite propulsion. The NanoSail-D is a subscale solar sail system designed for possible small spacecraft applications. The NanoSail-D mission flew on board the ill-fated Falcon Rocket launched August 2, 2008, and due to the failure of that rocket, never achieved orbit. The NanoSail-D flight spare is ready for flight and a suitable launch arrangement is being actively pursued. This paper will present an introduction solar sail propulsion systems and an overview of the NanoSail-D spacecraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *SOLAR sails
*PROPULSION systems
*SOLAR radiation
*MOMENTUM transfer
*SPACE vehicles
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00945765
- Volume :
- 68
- Issue :
- 5/6
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Acta Astronautica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 57076304
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2010.02.008