Solar sail propulsion systems enable a wide range of space missions that are not feasible with current propulsion technology. Hardware concepts and analytical methods have matured through ground development to the point that a flight validation mission is now realizable. Much attention has been given to modeling the structural dynamics of the constituent elements, but to date an integrated system level dynamics analysis has been lacking. Using a multi-body dynamics and control analysis tool called TREETOPS, the coupled dynamics of the sailcraft bus, sail membranes, flexible booms, and control system sensors and actuators of a representative solar sail spacecraft are investigated to assess system level dynamics and control issues. With this tool, scaling issues and parametric trade studies can be performed to study achievable performance, control authority requirements, and control/structure interaction assessments.
Modeling the Multi-Body System Dynamics of a Flexible Solar Sail Spacecraft
2005 Joint Army Navy Nasa Air Force (JANNAF) Spacecraft Propulsion Subcommittee Joint Meeting ; 2005 ; Monterey, CA, United States
2005-01-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Gyromesh solar sail spacecraft and sail panel assemblies
European Patent Office | 2024
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