The LightSail 2 solar sailing technology demonstration

Spencer, David A.; Betts, Bruce; Bellardo, John; Diaz, Alex; Plante, Barbara; Mansell, Justin R.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2020.06.029

Cited by 82 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Compared with the NanoSail-D mission, LightSail missions have sophisticated sensory and actuation infrastructures, such as onboard cameras, momentum, and magnetic actuation parts. The Planetary Society announced that LightSail-2 mission success on 31 July 2019 (Spencer et al, 2021). LightSail-2 was not dedicated to showing debris removal properties.…”

Section: Lightsail-drag Sailmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

ET-Class: An Energy Transfer-Based Classification of Space Debris Removal Methods and Missions

Yalçin¹,

Martinez²,

Delisle³

et al. 2022

Front. Space Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Space debris is positioned as a fatal problem for current and future space missions. Many effective space debris removal methods have been proposed in the past decade, and several techniques have been either tested on the ground or in parabolic flight experiments. Nevertheless, no uncooperative debris has been removed from any orbit until this moment. Therefore, to expand this research field and progressing the development of space debris removal technologies, this paper reviews and compares the existing technologies with past, present, and future methods and missions. Moreover, since one of the critical problems when designing space debris removal solutions is how to transfer the energy between the chaser/de-orbiting kit and target during the first interaction, this paper proposes a novel classification approach, named ET-Class (Energy Transfer Class). This classification approach provides an energy-based perspective to the space debris phenomenon by classifying how existing methods dissipate or store energy during the first contact.

show abstract

Section: Lightsail-drag Sailmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(D) LightSail-Drag Sail. (E) InflateSail-Drag Sail(Johnson et al, 2011;Underwood et al, 2019;Forshaw et al, 2020;Spencer et al, 2021; European Space Agency, 2022).…”

unclassified

ET-Class: An Energy Transfer-Based Classification of Space Debris Removal Methods and Missions

Yalçin¹,

Martinez²,

Delisle³

et al. 2022

Front. Space Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The first successful demonstration of a light sail was by a JAXA solar sail spacecraft known as IKAROS in 2010. Since then, the Planetary society is the only other organisation to demonstrate that a spacecraft can be propelled by SRP [116]. The Planetary societies light sail 2 noted issues with power due to having only one solar panel and highlighted that atmospheric drag at 720km orbit was a significant issue [116].…”

Section: Light Sailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since then, the Planetary society is the only other organisation to demonstrate that a spacecraft can be propelled by SRP [116]. The Planetary societies light sail 2 noted issues with power due to having only one solar panel and highlighted that atmospheric drag at 720km orbit was a significant issue [116]. These issues are expected to be addressed on the planetary societies lightsail 3.…”

Section: Light Sailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electric Propulsion Methods for Small Satellites: A Review

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over 2500 active satellites are in orbit as of October 2020, with an increase of ~1000 smallsats in the past two years. Since 2012, over 1700 smallsats have been launched into orbit. It is projected that by 2025, there will be 1000 smallsats launched per year. Currently, these satellites do not have sufficient delta v capabilities for missions beyond Earth orbit. They are confined to their pre-selected orbit and in most cases, they cannot avoid collisions. Propulsion systems on smallsats provide orbital manoeuvring, station keeping, collision avoidance and safer de-orbit strategies. In return, this enables longer duration, higher functionality missions beyond Earth orbit. This article has reviewed electrostatic, electrothermal and electromagnetic propulsion methods based on state of the art research and the current knowledge base. Performance metrics by which these space propulsion systems can be evaluated are presented. The article outlines some of the existing limitations and shortcomings of current electric propulsion thruster systems and technologies. Moreover, the discussion contributes to the discourse by identifying potential research avenues to improve and advance electric propulsion systems for smallsats. The article has placed emphasis on space propulsion systems that are electric and enable interplanetary missions, while alternative approaches to propulsion have also received attention in the text, including light sails and nuclear electric propulsion amongst others.

show abstract

“…Thus after a century and a half of theory and more than a century of experimentation, including recent solar sail tests in space [10], it is clear that photons impart momentum each time they strike and reflect from a mirror. Quantizing radiation pressure requires photons that reflect perpendicularly from specular reflectors to impart twice their quantum momentum into the reflector [11], just as a physical ball would if bouncing perpendicularly and elastically between two plates in space.…”

Section: Converting Photon Energy Into Moving-object Momentummentioning

confidence: 99%