First Solar Power Sail Demonstration by IKAROS

Osamu MORI; Hirotaka SAWADA; Ryu FUNASE; Mutsuko MORIMOTO; Tatsuya ENDO; Takayuki YAMAMOTO; Yuichi TSUDA; Yasuhiro KAWAKATSU; Jun'ichiro KAWAGUCHI; Yasuyuki MIYAZAKI; Yoji SHIRASAWA; IKAROS Demonstration Team and Solar Sail Working Group

doi:10.2322/tastj.8.To_4_25

o-4) Innovation in Space Mission and Control Engineering

First Solar Power Sail Demonstration by IKAROS

Osamu MORI, Hirotaka SAWADA, Ryu FUNASE, Mutsuko MORIMOTO, Tatsuya ENDO, Takayuki YAMAMOTO, Yuichi TSUDA, Yasuhiro KAWAKATSU, Jun'ichiro KAWAGUCHI, Yasuyuki MIYAZAKI, Yoji SHIRASAWA, IKAROS Demonstration Team and Solar Sail Working Group

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Keywords: Solar Power Sail, Membrane, Deployment System

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 8 Issue ists27 Pages To_4_25-To_4_31

DOI https://doi.org/10.2322/tastj.8.To_4_25

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Abstract

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will make the world's first solar power sail craft demonstration of photon propulsion and thin film solar power generation during its interplanetary cruise by IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun). The spacecraft deploys and spans a membrane of 20 meters in diameter taking the advantage of the spin centrifugal force. The spacecraft weighs approximately 310kg, launched together with the agency's Venus Climate Orbiter, AKATSUKI in May 2010. This will be the first actual solar sail flying an interplanetary voyage.

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