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Characterization of Space Environmental Effects on Candidate Solar Sail MaterialThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is concentrating research into the utilization of photonic materials for spacecraft propulsion. Spacecraft propulsion, using photonic materials, will be achieved using a solar sail. A solar sail operates on the principle that photons, originating from the sun, impart pressure to the sail and therefore provide a source for spacecraft propulsion. The pressure imparted to a solar sail can be increased, up to a factor of two if the sunfacing surface is perfectly reflective. Therefore, these solar sails are generally composed of a highly reflective metallic sun-facing layer, a thin polymeric substrate and occasionally a highly emissive back surface. The Space Environmental Effects Team, at MSFC, is actively characterizing candidate solar sail material to evaluate the thermo-optical and mechanical properties after exposure to radiation environments simulating orbital environments. This paper describes the results of three candidate materials after exposure to a simulated Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This is the first known characterization of solar sail material exposed to space simulated radiation environments. The technique of radiation dose versus material depth profiling was used to determine the orbital equivalent exposure doses. The solar sail exposure procedures and results of the material characterization will be discussed.
Document ID
20020068481
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Edwards, David
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Hubbs, Whitney
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Stanaland, Tesia
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Munafo, Paul M.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: 47th SPIE Annual Meeting: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology
Location: Seattle, WA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 7, 2002
End Date: July 11, 2002
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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