Sam Fraser
04-17-2010, 08:31 PM
A couple of interesting developments with applications to unmanned NEO probes:
A 5 x 5 m, 3 kg, deployable sail is being developed to fit in a 10 x 10 x 30 cm nanosatellite and will be used in a demonstration mission to be launched in late 2011 demonstrating passive means of deorbiting for future satellites.
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2010/26099_a_mission_to_clear_dangerous_debris_from_spa ce.htm
IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) is a solar sail which gathers sunlight as propulsion by means of a large sail. This spacecraft will be launched in 2010 together with the Venus Climate Orbiter, "AKATSUKI"(PLANET-C), using the H-IIA launch vehicle.
http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/ikaros_cam/e/index.html
http://www.planetary.org/special/fromearth/sail
A 5 x 5 m, 3 kg, deployable sail is being developed to fit in a 10 x 10 x 30 cm nanosatellite and will be used in a demonstration mission to be launched in late 2011 demonstrating passive means of deorbiting for future satellites.
http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2010/26099_a_mission_to_clear_dangerous_debris_from_spa ce.htm
IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) is a solar sail which gathers sunlight as propulsion by means of a large sail. This spacecraft will be launched in 2010 together with the Venus Climate Orbiter, "AKATSUKI"(PLANET-C), using the H-IIA launch vehicle.
http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/ikaros_cam/e/index.html
http://www.planetary.org/special/fromearth/sail