Abstract
IKAROS is a solar power sail demonstrator launched by JAXA in 2010. IKAROS successfully deployed its large sail by a centrifugal force due to the spin motion of the spacecraft body and obtained a solar power sail navigation. In the evaluation of IKAROS membrane shape, some unexpected phenomena were observed; (1) tether connecting IKAROS membrane and main body got loose in spite of normal spin rate, and (2) the membrane was not warped by photon pressure in spite of low spin rate. The purpose of this paper is to understand generation mechanisms about these unexpected phenomena. Because thin-film devices of thin-film solar cell and reflectivity control device are multilayer film structures, curves occur. The bending stiffness of IKAROS membrane is increased due to the curve. This paper presents the multi-particle model of the membrane considering curve and bending moment of thin-film device. The membrane shape is estimated by numerical simulations and the influence of the thin-film device is made clear.
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