Experimental and Numerical Correlation of Gravity Sag In Solar Sail Quality Membranes S.pdf

-1- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Experimental and Numerical Correlation of Gravity Sag In Solar Sail Quality Membranes Jonathan T. Black* University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 Jack Leifer2 University of Kentucky, Paducah, KY 42002 Joshua A. DeMoss3 Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061 Eric N. Walker4 George Washington University, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681 and W. Keith Belvin5 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681 Solar sails are among the most studied members of the ultra-lightweight and inflatable (Gossamer) space structures family due to their potential to provide propellentless propulsion. They are comprised of ultra-thin membrane panels that, to date, have proven very difficult to experimentally characterize and numerically model due to their reflectivity and flexibility, and the effects of gravity sag and air damping. Numerical models must be correlated with experimental measurements of sub-scale solar sails to verify that the models can be scaled up to represent full-sized solar sails. In this paper, the surface shapes of five horizontally supported 25 μm thick aluminized Kapton membranes were measured to a 1.0 mm resolution using photogrammetry. Several simple numerical models closely match the experimental data, proving the ability of finite element simulations to predict actual behavior of solar sails. I. Introduction olar sails are part of the class of ultra-lightweight and inflatable gossamer space structures. They are propellantless propulsion devices that generate a small but continuous acceleration on the order of 1.00 mm/s2. In order to achieve this acceleration rate, solar sails must be fabricated using membranes less than 5.0 μm thick with areal densities less than 7.0 g/m2.1 This constant acceleration will allow travel in non-Keplerian orbits, which are uniquely suited for several tasks such as polar observing and holding relatively stationary positions. Consequent