Back to results
US 12,583,629 B2Granted
Solar sail for orbital maneuvers
AssigneeL'Garde, Inc.
InventorsNathaniel C. Barnes, Darren D. Garber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar sail includes a bus and a plurality of separate movable vanes coupled to the bus. Each movable vane includes a reflective surface for generating solar radiation pressure and propel the solar sail in space. Each vane may be movable relative to the bus in a fully deployed configuration such that an amount of thrust generated by solar radiation pressure on each vane is controllable.
Claims16
A solar sail, comprising:
- a bus;
- and
- a plurality of separate vanes movably coupled to the bus, each of the plurality of separate vanes including:
- a reflective surface for using solar radiation pressure to propel the solar sail in space,
- a support frame to support the reflective surface, wherein the support frame includes a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration,
- wherein each of the of the plurality of separate vanes is movably coupled to the bus, wherein each connection between the bus and a vane of the plurality of separate vanes has a first rotational degree of freedom about a connection axis between the bus and the vane and an axis of symmetry of the vane, and a second rotational degree of freedom orthogonal to the first rotational degree of freedom in a fully deployed configuration.
3 more elements
A Method of controlling a solar sail, comprising:
- providing a solar sail in a stowed configuration, the solar sail having a bus and a plurality of vanes movably coupled to the bus, each of the plurality of separate vanes defining a reflective surface for using solar radiation pressure to propel the solar sail in space, and a support frame to support the reflective surface;
- wherein the support frame includes a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein each of the plurality of separate vanes is movably coupled to the bus, wherein each connection between the bus and a vane of the plurality of separate vanes has a first rotational degree of freedom about a connection axis between the bus and the vane and an axis of symmetry of the vane, and a second rotational degree of freedom orthogonal to the first rotational degree of freedom in a fully deployed configuration;
- launching the solar sail into space to an orbit about a planet;
- deploying the solar sail in space to a deployed configuration;
- positioning the plurality of vanes in a first position in which each of the plurality of vanes are generally parallel during a first portion of the orbit about the planet;
- rotating the plurality of vanes to a second position generally orthogonal to the first position during a second portion of the orbit about the planet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.