Solar Sail Attitude Control via Magnetic Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar sail spacecraft designs require in-space construction and lack a docking station for daughter units and payload handling, as well as efficient attitude control systems, leading to challenges in material fatigue and costly missions.
Innovation Solution
A self-deploying solar sail spacecraft with a built-in docking station and advanced attitude control system using roller reefing and solar-electric propulsion, allowing direct launch and deployment with pivoting petal segments and a rotatable platform, enabling fuel-less steering and station-keeping without the need for in-space assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If solar sail spacecraft use traditional deployment methods, then the sail can be deployed in space, but it requires in-space construction and lacks docking station capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The spacecraft is divided into modular components including a mothership with docking station and daughter units. The sail is segmented into multiple foils that can be independently deployed and managed. This segmentation allows the docking station to be integrated into the launch vehicle structure, eliminating the need for in-space assembly while maintaining versatility for multiple mission objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station, payload handling facilities, and sail deployment mechanisms are merged into an integrated launch-ready configuration. The mothership structure combines propulsion, docking, and sail control functions, allowing the entire assembly to be launched as a single unit and deployed in space without requiring separate construction operations.
2Ease of operation
If solar sail uses frequent furling and unfurling for steering, then attitude control is achieved, but material fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical furling system with a magnetic field-based control mechanism. Magnetic actuators mounted on the sail rim interact with conductive elements in the sail foil to generate Lorentz forces, enabling attitude control without mechanical movement. This substitution eliminates wear and fatigue associated with repeated furling and unfurling operations while maintaining precise steering capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If solar sail spacecraft are designed for direct launch, then cost is reduced, but the spacecraft must integrate multiple functions including docking and sail deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The mothership structure is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions: it serves as the launch vehicle payload container, the docking station for daughter units, the sail deployment structure, and the propulsion platform. This multi-functionality allows the spacecraft to be launched directly with all capabilities integrated, eliminating the need for separate in-space construction operations while reducing overall mission cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective missions by eliminating the need for in-space construction, reducing material fatigue through improved sail foil management, and providing robust attitude control for long-duration missions, including asteroid sample return and near-Sun asteroid missions.
Implementation Method 1
solar sail spacecraft... steering, station keeping and attitude control of this special solar-sail mothership spacecraft
Implementation Method 2
solar-electric-propulsion thrusters
Data Source
AI summary
Fuel less ACS for solar sails, using furl- and unfurl able ballast-sail-foil-segments for simultaneously displacement of center of mass and center of solar radiation pressure into opposite directions to each other.Solar-Sail-Launch-System for direct launch of the System-Sail including already docked in daughter units and payload in the sailcraft's central docking station.Unlike todays launch able solar sail designs the System-Sail features ample solar cell arrays and additional SEP-thruster-units for steering and propulsion, while the solar sail rather serves for longtime fuel less attitude controls and station keeping.The SEP-Sailcraft may also serve as a carrier-ship for daughter-units in asteroid exploration missions and is able to deliver prospector landers back to LEO with furled in foils.