2010/12/23 by Les Johnson, Johnson, L., R. Young +29
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems #Astro and Planetary Science #FOS: Physical sciences #Space Physics (physics.space-ph) #Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1012.5250
openalex publication_date 2010/12/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Solar sails can play a critical role in enabling solar and heliophysics missions. Solar sail technology within NASA is currently at 80% of TRL-6, suitable for an in-flight technology demonstration. It is conceivable that an initial demonstration could carry scientific payloads that, depending on the type of mission, are commensurate with the goals of the three study panels of the 2010 Heliophysics Survey. Follow-on solar sail missions, leveraging advances in solar sail technology to support Heliophysics Survey goals, would then be feasible. This white paper reports on a sampling of missions enabled by solar sails, the current state of the technology, and what funding is required to advance the current state of technology such that solar sails can enable these missions.