Development of Deployment System for Small Size Solar Sail Mission

Abstract

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is studying the feasibilityof using the solar power sail as a new propulsion engine for deepspace exploration missions. In this paper, the sail shape and equipmentlayout for missions utilizing small-sized solar power sails are proposed.The two-stage deployment method of the sail is also proposed. Thesail need to be deployed statically at the first stage, and two typesof deployment mechanisms are introduced. On the other hand the secondstage of the deployment can be performed dynamically, and the oscillatingmotion of the membrane is converged by tethers connecting the membraneto the main body. The deployment motions are analyzed by numericalsimulations using multi-particle models in order to verify the deployment.They are compared with the results calculated by finite element methodmodels. The numerical simulation results are discussed from the technologicalviewpoint of the sail deployment dynamics and mechanisms.