Abstract
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 840-848 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
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Keywords
- solar sails
- space flight
- gravity
- orbits
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Microsolar sails for Earth magnetotail monitoring. / Lappas, Vaios; Wie, Bong; McInnes, C.R.; Tarabini, L.; Wallace, K.
In: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 44, No. 4, 2007, p. 840-848.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Microsolar sails for Earth magnetotail monitoring
AU - Lappas, Vaios
AU - Wie, Bong
AU - McInnes, C.R.
AU - Tarabini, L.
AU - Wallace, K.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Solar sails have been studied in the past as an alternative means of propulsion for spacecraft. Recent advances in solar sail technology and the miniaturization of technology can drive these systems much smaller (<5 kg mass, <10 msail diameter) than existing sails, while still having a highV and acceleration capability. With these unique capabilities of miniature solar sails, called solar kites, some very unique space science missions can be achieved which are difficult to implement using conventional propulsion techniques. One such unique candidate mission is to study the Earth's magnetotail. The paper describes the main design features and technologies of a solar kite mission/ platform and demonstrates that a cluster of solar kites with science payloads can provide multiple, in situ measurements of the dynamic evolution of energetic particle distributions of the rotating geomagnetic tail of Earth. With a unique design, a solar kite proves to be an efficient, affordable, and versatile solution for the mission analyzed with a significant science return.
AB - Solar sails have been studied in the past as an alternative means of propulsion for spacecraft. Recent advances in solar sail technology and the miniaturization of technology can drive these systems much smaller (<5 kg mass, <10 msail diameter) than existing sails, while still having a highV and acceleration capability. With these unique capabilities of miniature solar sails, called solar kites, some very unique space science missions can be achieved which are difficult to implement using conventional propulsion techniques. One such unique candidate mission is to study the Earth's magnetotail. The paper describes the main design features and technologies of a solar kite mission/ platform and demonstrates that a cluster of solar kites with science payloads can provide multiple, in situ measurements of the dynamic evolution of energetic particle distributions of the rotating geomagnetic tail of Earth. With a unique design, a solar kite proves to be an efficient, affordable, and versatile solution for the mission analyzed with a significant science return.
KW - solar sails
KW - space flight
KW - gravity
KW - orbits
UR - http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=406&gTable=jaPaper&gid=23456
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.23456
U2 - 10.2514/1.23456
DO - 10.2514/1.23456
M3 - Article
VL - 44
SP - 840
EP - 848
JO - Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
T2 - Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
JF - Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
SN - 0022-4650
IS - 4
ER -