NASA tests new solar sail structure

The primary goal of NASA’s new Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) is to test a new, rollable carbon fibre boom that could revolutionise space exploration

 
CUBESAT
Solar sails will extend from nanosatellite measuring just 20cm x 20cm x 30cm

Bus: Houses flight computer, sun sensors, star tracker and radio communications

20cm

Solar sail spool x 4

Z plate: Additional electronics


9.9m
Solar sail
7m
Motor drive gears
Tape driver
Boom: Unrolls to 7m long
Booms pull out sail quadrants


INNOVATIVE BOOM DEPLOYER
Carbon fibre booms pressed flat and rolled up like tape. Each weighs just 900g – 75% less than comparable metal booms, which are prone to thermal buckling


EXPANSION
Boom resumes tube shape when unfurled

Booms could eventually be used to build structures for base on moon


Sources: Space.com, NASA, Rocket Lab
Picture: NASA
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