Validation of a scalable solar sailcraft system

To enable certain near- and midterm NASA space science missions by significantly reducing cost, mass, and travel times, NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Program sponsored intensive solar sail systems technology design, development, and hardware demonstration activities over a period of three years. For the first time, the rigorous validation of a scalable three-axis stabilized solar sail system, through functional evaluations in relevant environments together with analysis correlation activities, was achieved. This paper presents a review of the design developed, results of testing, and analytical validations of component and assembly functional, strength, stiffness, shape, and dynamic behavior. The scaled performance of the validated system is projected to demonstrate readiness for flight demonstration and applicability to NASA road-map missions.