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Solar-powered space flight

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

M. H. D. Kemp
M. H. D. Kemp*
Affiliation:
London
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is analyse the practicality or otherwise of solar-powered propulsion (after launch using conventional chemical rocketry) for a space vehicle’s late pre-orbital trajectory phase, for orbital transfer and for post-orbital flight. We introduce a ‘concept’ vehicle that in principle permits the use of solar-powered propulsion in each of these stages. Some of the technical challenges that such a vehicle might face are analysed, including the problem of how to keep a large ultra-low mass optical concentrator arrangement sufficiently accurately positioned in different parts of such a trajectory.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 109 , Issue 1102 , December 2005 , pp. 619 - 630
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2005 

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