Solar Polar Orbiter: A solar sail technology reference study

Macdonald, M., Hughes, G. W., McInnes, C. R. , Lyngvi, A., Falkner, P. and Atzei, A. (2006) Solar Polar Orbiter: A solar sail technology reference study. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 43(5), pp. 960-972. (doi: 10.2514/1.16408)

Abstract

An assessment is presented of a Solar Polar Orbiter mission as a Technology Reference Study. The goal is to focus the development of strategically important technologies of potential relevance to future science missions. The technology is solar sailing, and so the use of solar sail propulsion is, thus, defined a priori. The primary mission architecture utilizes maximum Soyuz Fregat 2-1b launch energy, deploying the sail shortly after Fregat separation. The 153 × 153 m square sail then spirals into a circular 0.48-astronomical-unit orbit, where the orbit inclination is raised to 90 deg with respect to the solar equator in just over 5 years. Both the solar sail and spacecraft technology requirements have been addressed. The sail requires advanced boom and new thin-film technology. The spacecraft requirements were found to be minimal because the spacecraft environment is relatively benign in comparison with other currently envisaged missions, such as the Solar Orbiter mission and BepiColombo.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McInnes, Professor Colin
• Authors: Macdonald, M., Hughes, G. W., McInnes, C. R., Lyngvi, A., Falkner, P., and Atzei, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Journal Name: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
• Publisher: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
• ISSN: 0022-4650
• ISSN (Online): 1533-6794