NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

For release: 08/09/04
Photo release #: 04-208

NASA team successfully deploys two solar sail systems

Solar sail propulsion uses the Sun's energy to propel spacecraft through space, much the way wind pushes sailboats across water. The technology bounces a stream of solar energy particles called photons off giant, reflective sails of lightweight material. The continuous pressure provides sufficient thrust for a spacecraft to travel in space and perform maneuvers, such as hovering at a fixed point in space, which would require too much propellant for conventional rocket systems. This animation shows a solar sail concept in flight, as designed by L'Garde, Inc., of Tustin, Calif. -- a contractor of the In-Space Propulsion Technology Projects Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The animation follows the deployment of a solar sail system design concept in space, including the extension of the technology's inflatable boom system -- which supports the sail material -- and actual solar sail quadrants. (NASA) QuickTime animation, 6.0 MB

 

Solar sail propulsion uses the Sun's energy to propel spacecraft through space, much the way wind pushes sailboats across water. The technology bounces a stream of solar energy particles called photons off giant, reflective sails of lightweight material. The continuous pressure provides sufficient thrust for a spacecraft to travel in space and perform maneuvers, such as hovering at a fixed point in space, which would require too much propellant for conventional rocket systems. This animation shows a solar sail concept in flight, as designed by Able Engineering of Goleta, Calif. -- a contractor of the In-Space Propulsion Technology Projects Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The animation follows the deployment of the solar sail system design concept, including the extension of the technology's coilable boom system -- which supports the sail material -- and actual solar sail quadrants. (NASA) QuickTime animation, 5.7 MB

 

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