Abstract The LightSail 2 mission is the culmination of a decade-long program sponsored by The Planetary Society to advance solar sailing technology. The objective of LightSail 2 is to demonstrate controlled solar sailing in Earth orbit using a CubeSat platform. The LightSail 2 attitude is controlled using a single-axis momentum wheel and magnetic torque rods. During solar sailing operations, two 90 degree slews are performed each orbit to harness momentum from solar photons. Flight data show that LightSail 2 is successfully controlling its orientation relative to the Sun, and the controlled thrust from solar radiation pressure is measurably reducing the rate of orbital decay. The Planetary Society declared LightSail 2 mission success on July 31, 2019. This paper provides an overview of the LightSail 2 mission implementation, including the design of the flight system and flight software, and the pre-launch testing program. A summary of LightSail 2 mission operations is provided, including a description of the ground system. Solar sailing performance is presented, and anomalies encountered during the mission are discussed. The flight team continues to refine solar sailing performance and conduct on-orbit imaging for engineering purposes and to engage public interest. The LightSail program is entirely donor-funded, with over 50,000 contributors around the globe.


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    Titel :

    The LightSail 2 solar sailing technology demonstration


    Beteiligte:
    Spencer, David A. (Autor:in) / Betts, Bruce (Autor:in) / Bellardo, John M. (Autor:in) / Diaz, Alex (Autor:in) / Plante, Barbara (Autor:in) / Mansell, Justin R. (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 67 , 9 ; 2878-2889


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2020-06-22


    Format / Umfang :

    12 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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