A novel approach to solar sails with high area-to-mass ratios for efficient solar sailing in geospace

Zhongjing Ren, Changyang Li, Peng Yan, Yong Shi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

An ultra lightweight millimeter solar sailing space system named ChipSail was reported in this work. The conceptual design of such a spacecraft includes a chip body and four independent millimeter scale solar sails, which can be built based on Al\NiTi bilayer microstructures. Bending stiffness of each solar sail for geometric maintaining under solar radiation pressure (SRP) in geospace is proven inherently satisfied. Lightweight Microstructures with high area-to-mass ratios show a great potential application in solar sailing. Independent control of each solar sail was demonstrated via the finite element method, which contributed to modelling of forces and moments for orbital maneuvering and attitude adjustment, respectively. A DC voltage of 0.05 V has proven effective for acquiring accelerations up to order of magnitude of 1 mm/s2 and angular accelerations up to the order of magnitude of 0.1 rad/s2. This work provides a promising approach to developing solar sailing spacecraft with an order of magnitude higher solar sail accelerations for geospace exploration.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2023 2nd International Symposium on Aerospace Engineering and Systems, ISAES 2023
Pages263-269
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9798350303728
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event2nd International Symposium on Aerospace Engineering and Systems, ISAES 2023 - Hybrid, Nanjing, China
Duration: 19 May 202321 May 2023

Publication series

Name2023 2nd International Symposium on Aerospace Engineering and Systems, ISAES 2023

Conference

Conference2nd International Symposium on Aerospace Engineering and Systems, ISAES 2023
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHybrid, Nanjing
Period19/05/2321/05/23

Keywords

  • area-to-mass ratios
  • bilayer microstructures
  • solar sailing
  • solar sails

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