Optical performance of reflectivity control devices for solar sail applications

David D. Smith; Andrew F. Heaton; Saba Ramazani; Daniel A. Tyler; Les Johnson; Charles Bachmann; Dylan J. Shiltz; Chris S. Lapszynski; Nayma B. Nur; Chris H. Lee; Neset Akozbek; Dana Dement; Samuel Dummer; Brandon Farmer

doi:10.1117/12.2676775

28 September 2023 Optical performance of reflectivity control devices for solar sail applications

David D. Smith, Andrew F. Heaton, Saba Ramazani, Daniel A. Tyler, Les Johnson, Charles Bachmann, Dylan J. Shiltz, Chris S. Lapszynski, Nayma B. Nur, Chris H. Lee, Neset Akozbek, Dana Dement, Samuel Dummer, Brandon Farmer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume PC12664, Optical Modeling and Performance Predictions XIII; PC1266405 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676775
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Reflectivity control devices (RCDs) based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals were fabricated for Solar Cruiser, a SmallSat NASA Pathfinder Mission consisting of a 1653 square meter solar sail that would establish an artificial orbit sunward of the L1 Lagrange point for heliophysics observations. Here we describe the optical characterization of these birefringent electro-optic devices including thin film measurements and analysis, hyperspectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function measurements, and radiometric analysis. These measurements demonstrate the promise of RCDs for roll control and momentum management of solar sails.

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David D. Smith, Andrew F. Heaton, Saba Ramazani, Daniel A. Tyler, Les Johnson, Charles Bachmann, Dylan J. Shiltz, Chris S. Lapszynski, Nayma B. Nur, Chris H. Lee, Neset Akozbek, Dana Dement, Samuel Dummer, and Brandon Farmer "Optical performance of reflectivity control devices for solar sail applications", Proc. SPIE PC12664, Optical Modeling and Performance Predictions XIII, PC1266405 (28 September 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676775

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