It is proposed to suspend an airfoil from the Space Shuttle by a long tether into the upper atmosphere to provide a horizontal force on the Shuttle, thereby changing its orbital plane most efficiently. The airfoil would need high-temperature skin and tether, and remotely controlled flaps to adjust its angle of attack. The airfoil could also be used as a hypersonic facility to measure aerodynamic characteristics at extreme altitudes and velocities. This use would require a vertical lift force to counteract the drag force and prevent the Shuttle orbit from decaying too rapidly during the aerodynamic measurements.


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    Title :

    The Satellite Sail


    Contributors:
    Pearson, J. (author)


    Publication date :

    1985-03-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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