Gossamer roadmap technology reference study for a solar polar mission

Macdonald, M. et al. (2014) Gossamer roadmap technology reference study for a solar polar mission. In: Macdonald, M. (ed.) Advances in Solar Sailing. Series: Springer Praxis books in astronautical engineering. Springer, pp. 243-257. ISBN 9783642349065 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-34907-2_17)

Abstract

A technology reference study for a solar polar mission is presented. The study uses novel analytical methods to quantify the mission design space including the required sail performance to achieve a given solar polar observation angle within a given timeframe and thus to derive mass allocations for the remaining spacecraft sub-systems, that is excluding the solar sail sub-system. A parametric, bottom-up, system mass budget analysis is then used to establish the required sail technology to deliver a range of science payloads, and to establish where such payloads can be delivered to within a given timeframe. It is found that a solar polar mission requires a solar sail of side-length 100–125 m to deliver a ‘sufficient value’ minimum science payload, and that a 2.5 μm sail film substrate is typically required, however the design is much less sensitive to the boom specific mass.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McInnes, Professor Colin
• Authors: Macdonald, M., McGrath, C., Appourchaux, T., Dachwald, B., Finsterle, W., Gizon, L., Liewer, P.C., McInnes, C.R., Mengali, G., Seboldt, W., Sekii, T., Solanki, S.K., Velli, M., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R.F., Spietz, P., and Reinhard, R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Publisher: Springer
• ISBN: 9783642349065