The Dynamics and Control of the Cubesail Mission---A Solar Sailing Demonstration

The proposed study addresses two issues related to the slow emergence of solar sailing as a viable space propulsion method. The low technology readiness level and complications related to stowage, deployment, and support of the sail structure are both addressed by combining the CU Aerospace and University of Illinois-developed UltraSail and CubeSat expertise to design a small-scale solar sail deployment and propulsion experiment in low Earth orbit. The study analyzes multiple aspects of the problem from initial sizing and packaging of the solar sail film into two CubeSat-class spacecraft, through on-orbit deployment dynamics, attitude control of large and flexible space structure, and predictions of performance and orbital maneuvering capability.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Pukniel, Andrzej

Contributors dc:contributor

• Victoria Coverstone

• Engineering, General

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3455846

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85121