Solar Sails
ILC participated in the DLR/JPL ODISSEE technology development program and the JPL ST-5 New Millennium Program in the development of solar sails. ILC developed sail construction processes for ultra-thin materials with embedded rip-stop materials. Sail materials were 2.5 to 3.5 microns thick polyester with vapor deposited aluminum on one side and chromium on the other. Support structures with embedded deployment control mechanisms were also developed to ensure deployment success.
ILC designed and manufactured several sail quadrants with deployment systems with a system mass of 6g/ m2. Finished quadrant assemblies of 7m x 7m x 10m (2) & 13m x 13m x 18m were constructed and tested. Multiple deployments were conducted at ILC and JPL to verify the robustness of the materials & structures.
|
Deployed Solar Sail Quadrant at ILC |
Sail Inspection at ILC |
|
ST-5 Solar Sail Concept (JPL) |
ODISSEE Solar Sail Concept (DLR) |
 Sail Quadrant Testing At JPL |
|
Newsletter Signup
