Roy Young

Solar Sails: Technology And Demonstration Status

Solar Sail propulsion has been validated in space (IKAROS, 2010) and soon several more solar-sail propelled spacecraft will be flown. Using sunlight for spacecraft propulsion is not a new idea. First proposed by Frederick Tsander and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in the 1920’s, NASA’s Echo 1 balloon, launched in 1960, was the first spacecraft for which the effects of solar photon pressure were measured. Solar sails reflect sunlight to achieve thrust, thus eliminating the need for costly and often very-heavy fuel. Such “propellantless” propulsion will enable whole new classes of space science and exploration missions previously not considered possible due to the propulsive-intense maneuvers and operations required.

Status of Solar Sail Propulsion: Moving Toward an Interstellar Probe

NASA’s In‐Space Propulsion Technology Program has developed the first‐generation of solar sail propulsion systems sufficient to accomplish inner solar system science and exploration missions. These first‐generation solar sails, when operational, will range in size from 40 meters to well over 100 meters in diameter and have an areal density of less than 13 grams‐per‐square meter. A rigorous, multiyear technology development effort culminated last year in the testing of two different 20‐meter solar sail systems under thermal vacuum conditions. This effort provided a number of significant insights into the optimal design and expected performance of solar sails as well as an understanding of the methods and costs of building and using them. In a separate effort, solar sail orbital analysis tools for mission design were developed and tested. Laboratory simulations of the effects of long‐term space radiation exposure were also conducted on two candidate solar sail materials. Detailed radiation and charging envi...

Rapid Development of Gossamer Propulsion for NASA Inner Solar System Science Missions

Over a two and one-half year period dating from 2003 through 2005, NASA’s In-Space Propulsion Program matured solar sail technology from laboratory components to full systems, demonstrated in as relevant a space environment as could feasibly be simulated on the ground. This paper describes the challenges identified; as well as the approaches taken toward solving a broad set of issues spanning material science, manufacturing technology, and interplanetary trajectory optimization. Revolutionary advances in system structural predictive analysis and characterization testing occurred. Also addressed are the remaining technology challenges that might be resolved with further ground technology research, geared toward reducing technical risks associated with future space validation and science missions.

Reduction of Martian Sample Return Mission Launch Mass with Solar Sail Propulsion

Solar sails have the potential to provide mass and cost savings for spacecraft traveling within the inner solar system. Companies like L’Garde have demonstrated sail manufacturability and various in-space deployment methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a current Mars sample return architecture and to determine how cost and mass would be reduced by incorporating a solar sail propulsion system. The team validated the design proposed by L’Garde, and scaled the design based on a trajectory analysis. Using the solar sail design reduced the required mass, eliminating one of the three launches required in the original architecture.