LightSail-1
Encyclopedia
LightSail-1 is a solar sail
project being developed by the Planetary Society
, a non-profit organization devoted to space exploration
. LightSail-1 was announced in November 2009. The kite-shaped spacecraft will have a total cross-section of 32 square metre, and will be fitted with guidance and diagnostic electronics. If the project is successful, two more solar sails, LightSail-2 and LightSail-3, will be built.
In 2005, the Planetary Society attempted to send its first solar sail, Cosmos 1
, into orbit, but the Volna
launch vehicle failed to reach orbit. In 2009, the Society took over NASA
's NanoSail-D
project, which they later renamed LightSail. Nanosail-D had failed to attain orbit in August 2008 due to the failure of its Falcon 1
launch vehicle. In November 2009, the Society announced in Washington D.C. that it would build and launch LightSail-1. By 2011, the project had passed its critical design review, which was conducted by a team including JPL
project veterans Bud Schurmeier, Glenn Cunningham, and Viktor Kerzhanovich, as well as Dave Bearden of Aerospace Corporation. The estimated cost of LightSail-1 was $1.8 million, which was raised from membership dues and private sources. The spacecraft was built in San Luis Obispo by Stellar Exploration Inc.
on the sail, producing a small degree of acceleration
. Thus, the solar sail will be propelled by pressure from sunlight itself, and not by the charged particles of the solar wind
. Although the acceleration is expected to be slow, it will be constant, permitting Lightsail-1 to reach relatively high speeds over time.
volume for launch, and will unfold to its full size upon reaching orbit. The individual sails are made of Mylar, a reflective polyester
film. LightSail-1's modular design will be based on three CubeSat
s, small satellites created for university
-level space projects. One CubeSat will carry the project's cameras, sensors and control systems, while the other two will contain the solar sails themselves.
speed once the spacecraft is released at an altitude of 500 miles (804.7 km). The Planetary Society hopes to launch Lightsail-1 in 2012.
Lagrangian point. There, it would be used to detect geomagnetic storms on the sun, which can damage power and communication systems on Earth and orbiting spacecraft. Such detection will provide earlier warnings of potential power failures.
Solar sail
Solar sails are a form of spacecraft propulsion using the radiation pressure of light from a star or laser to push enormous ultra-thin mirrors to high speeds....
project being developed by the Planetary Society
Planetary Society
The Planetary Society is a large, publicly supported, non-government and non-profit organization that has many research projects related to astronomy...
, a non-profit organization devoted to space exploration
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
. LightSail-1 was announced in November 2009. The kite-shaped spacecraft will have a total cross-section of 32 square metre, and will be fitted with guidance and diagnostic electronics. If the project is successful, two more solar sails, LightSail-2 and LightSail-3, will be built.
Development
Cosmos 1
Cosmos 1 was a project by Cosmos Studios and The Planetary Society to test a solar sail in space. As part of the project, an unmanned solar sail spacecraft christened Cosmos 1 was launched into space at 15:46:09 EDT on June 21, 2005 from the submarine Borisoglebsk in the Barents Sea...
, into orbit, but the Volna
Volna
Space launch vehicle Volna , is a converted SLBM used for launching artificial satellites into orbit. It is based on the R-29R designed by State Rocket Center Makayev and related to the Shtil' Launch Vehicle . The Volna is a 3 stage launch vehicle that uses liquid propellant...
launch vehicle failed to reach orbit. In 2009, the Society took over NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's NanoSail-D
NanoSail-D
NanoSail-D was a small satellite which was to have been used by NASA's Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It was a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimetres , with a mass of...
project, which they later renamed LightSail. Nanosail-D had failed to attain orbit in August 2008 due to the failure of its Falcon 1
Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
launch vehicle. In November 2009, the Society announced in Washington D.C. that it would build and launch LightSail-1. By 2011, the project had passed its critical design review, which was conducted by a team including JPL
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
project veterans Bud Schurmeier, Glenn Cunningham, and Viktor Kerzhanovich, as well as Dave Bearden of Aerospace Corporation. The estimated cost of LightSail-1 was $1.8 million, which was raised from membership dues and private sources. The spacecraft was built in San Luis Obispo by Stellar Exploration Inc.
Design
As a solar sail, LightSail-1's propulsion is dependent on solar radiation alone. Infalling photons will exert radiation pressureRadiation pressure
Radiation pressure is the pressure exerted upon any surface exposed to electromagnetic radiation. If absorbed, the pressure is the power flux density divided by the speed of light...
on the sail, producing a small degree of acceleration
Acceleration
In physics, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. In one dimension, acceleration is the rate at which something speeds up or slows down. However, since velocity is a vector, acceleration describes the rate of change of both the magnitude and the direction of velocity. ...
. Thus, the solar sail will be propelled by pressure from sunlight itself, and not by the charged particles of the solar wind
Solar wind
The solar wind is a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. It mostly consists of electrons and protons with energies usually between 1.5 and 10 keV. The stream of particles varies in temperature and speed over time...
. Although the acceleration is expected to be slow, it will be constant, permitting Lightsail-1 to reach relatively high speeds over time.
Structure
LightSail-1 has four triangular sails, which combine to form a diamond- or kite-shaped surface. The spacecraft will be packed into a 3-litreLitre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
volume for launch, and will unfold to its full size upon reaching orbit. The individual sails are made of Mylar, a reflective polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
film. LightSail-1's modular design will be based on three CubeSat
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components...
s, small satellites created for university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
-level space projects. One CubeSat will carry the project's cameras, sensors and control systems, while the other two will contain the solar sails themselves.
Mission
LightSail-1's goal is to test if solar sails are a viable form of space transport. The theory will be tested by measuring if there is any increase in LightSail-1's orbitalOrbital
Orbital may refer to:In chemistry and physics:* Atomic orbital* Molecular orbitalIn astronomy and space flight:* Orbit* Orbital resonance* Orbital period* Orbital plane * Orbital elements* Orbital speed...
speed once the spacecraft is released at an altitude of 500 miles (804.7 km). The Planetary Society hopes to launch Lightsail-1 in 2012.
Future projects
If LightSail-1 is successful, then the Planetary Society will execute two more solar sail projects with more complex goals. LightSail-2's goal will be to collect scientific data and improve solar sailing control. LightSail-3's goal would be to travel to the L1Lagrangian point
The Lagrangian points are the five positions in an orbital configuration where a small object affected only by gravity can theoretically be stationary relative to two larger objects...
Lagrangian point. There, it would be used to detect geomagnetic storms on the sun, which can damage power and communication systems on Earth and orbiting spacecraft. Such detection will provide earlier warnings of potential power failures.
See also
- IKAROSIKAROSIKAROS is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency experimental spacecraft. The spacecraft was launched on 21 May, 2010, aboard an H-IIA rocket, together with the Akatsuki probe and four other small spacecraft...
, a Japanese solar sail, launched in May 2010 - NanoSail-D2NanoSail-D2NanoSail-D2 is a small satellite built by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters , with a mass of...
, the successor to NanoSail-D, launched in November 2010 - CubeSatCubeSatA CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components...
- Solar sailSolar sailSolar sails are a form of spacecraft propulsion using the radiation pressure of light from a star or laser to push enormous ultra-thin mirrors to high speeds....
- Solar windSolar windThe solar wind is a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. It mostly consists of electrons and protons with energies usually between 1.5 and 10 keV. The stream of particles varies in temperature and speed over time...