A Preliminary Investigation of a Spin-Stabilized Solar Sail

Abstract

This paper deals with a circular spin-stabilized solar sail with radial creases. Radial and circumferential tensions in the reflector membrane of such a solar sail not only couple with each other but also are sensitive to the fabrication error of circumferential length of the membrane against the radius. The purpose of this paper is to investigate if and how the circumferential length of the membrane is designed against the radius such that (1) the radial tension is kept so large that the response of the membrane to the slewing of the spin axis of the core body is quick enough and the deformation of the membrane caused by the solar pressure is acceptably small and (2) the membrane with radial creases is so stretched by the circumferential tension that the effects of the creases on the thrust performance of the sail is negligible. Some results of preliminary deployment tests of sub-scale model of a circular spin-stabilized membrane with radial creases performed on the ground is also presented as well as a plan of deployment test of 10m-diameter sub-scale model in a ballistic trajectory.