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S.1 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Chapter 1: Introduction to ...

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- 19 -<br />

New Approaches in Advanced <strong>Propulsion</strong>: Solar Sailing<br />

Concept: Solar sails accelerate under the<br />

pressure from solar radiation, caused by a<br />

momentum transfer from reflected solar<br />

pho<strong>to</strong>ns, thus requiring no propellant. This<br />

force is proportional <strong>to</strong> the sail area and can be<br />

directed by tilting the sail with respect <strong>to</strong> the<br />

incoming solar flux.<br />

Because no propellant is used, the solar sail<br />

has an infinite specific impulse (Isp = ∞),<br />

however, the thrust <strong>to</strong> weight ratio is very low,<br />

10 -4 <strong>to</strong> 10 -5 for 9 N/km 2 solar pressure at 1 AU.<br />

Typical applications:<br />

- interplanetary cargo missions<br />

- interstellar travel<br />

Status: All attempts <strong>to</strong> unfold solar sail in<br />

space have so far failed.

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