J191063 Interplanetary Exploration by Solar Power Sail

Abstract

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully achieved the world's first solar power sail technology by IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) mission in 2010. It demonstrated a photon propulsion and thin film solar power generation during its interplanetary cruise. The 200m2-span sail was deployed and kept extended by centrifugal force of the spacecraft rotation. IKAROS also succeeded in accelerating and controlling the orbit by actively exploiting solar radiation pressure, and thus became the world's first actual solar sailer flying an interplanetary voyage. This paper presents the design of IKAROS solar sail system, operation results and introduces a perspective of this new technology to apply to the next generation mission toward Jupiter and Trojan asteroids.