@inproceedings{Weber2015,
  author    = {Weber, Tobias},
  title     = {Manufacturing Process Simulation for Tooling Optimization: Reduction of Quality Issues During Autoclave Manufacturing of Composite Parts},
  series = {Proceedings of SAMPE Europe Conference 2015, Amiens, France},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of SAMPE Europe Conference 2015, Amiens, France},
  pages     = {1 -- 8},
  year      = {2015},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{OttenSchmidWeber2015,
  author    = {Otten, D. and Schmid, M. and Weber, Tobias},
  title     = {Advances In Sheet Metal-Forming: Reduction Of Tooling Cost By Methodical Optimization},
  series = {Proceedings of SAMPE Europe Conference, Amiens , France},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of SAMPE Europe Conference, Amiens , France},
  year      = {2015},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HoevelerBauknechtWolfetal.2020,
  author    = {Hoeveler, B. and Bauknecht, Andr{\´e} and Wolf, C. Christian and Janser, Frank},
  title     = {Wind-Tunnel Study of a Wing-Embedded Lifting Fan Remaining Open in Cruise Flight},
  series = {Journal of Aircraft},
  volume    = {57},
  journal   = {Journal of Aircraft},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  issn      = {1533-3868},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.C035422},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {It is investigated whether a nonrotating lifting fan remaining uncovered during cruise flight, as opposed to being covered by a shutter system, can be realized with limited additional drag and loss of lift during cruise flight. A wind-tunnel study of a wing-embedded lifting fan has been conducted at the Side Wind Test Facility G{\"o}ttingen of DLR, German Aerospace Center in G{\"o}ttingen using force, pressure, and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry techniques. The study showed that a step on the lower side of the wing in front of the lifting fan duct increases the lift-to-drag ratio of the whole model by up to 25\% for all positive angles of attack. Different sizes and inclinations of the step had limited influence on the surface pressure distribution. The data indicate that these parameters can be optimized to maximize the lift-to-drag ratio. A doubling of the curvature radius of the lifting fan duct inlet lip on the upper side of the wing affected the lift-to-drag ratio by less than 1\%. The lifting fan duct inlet curvature can therefore be optimized to maximize the vertical fan thrust of the rotating lifting fan during hovering without affecting the cruise flight performance with a nonrotating fan.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2020,
  author    = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees},
  title     = {Airfoil drag at low-to-medium reynolds numbers: A novel estimation method},
  series = {AIAA Journal},
  volume    = {58},
  journal   = {AIAA Journal},
  number    = {7},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  issn      = {1533-385X},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.J058983},
  pages     = {2791 -- 2805},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {This paper presents a novel method for airfoil drag estimation at Reynolds numbers between 4×10⁵ and 4×10⁶. The novel method is based on a systematic study of 40 airfoils applying over 600 numerical simulations and considering natural transition. The influence of the airfoil thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and freestream Reynolds number on both friction and pressure drag is analyzed in detail. Natural transition significantly affects drag characteristics and leads to distinct drag minima for different Reynolds numbers and thickness-to-chord ratios. The results of the systematic study are used to develop empirical correlations that can accurately predict an airfoil drag at low-lift conditions. The new approach estimates a transition location based on airfoil thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and Reynolds number. It uses the transition location in a mixed laminar-turbulent skin-friction calculation, and corrects the skin-friction coefficient for separation effects. Pressure drag is estimated separately based on correlations of thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and Reynolds number. The novel method shows excellent accuracy when compared with wind-tunnel measurements of multiple airfoils. It is easily integrable into existing aircraft design environments and is highly beneficial in the conceptual design stage.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KhayyamJamaliBabHadiasharetal.2020,
  author    = {Khayyam, Hamid and Jamali, Ali and Bab-Hadiashar, Alireza and Esch, Thomas and Ramakrishna, Seeram and Jalili, Mahdi and Naebe, Minoo},
  title     = {A Novel Hybrid Machine Learning Algorithm for Limited and Big Data Modeling with Application in Industry 4.0},
  series = {IEEE Access},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {IEEE Access},
  number    = {Art. 9108222},
  publisher = {IEEE},
  address   = {New York, NY},
  issn      = {2169-3536},
  doi       = {10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2999898},
  pages     = {111381 -- 111393},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {To meet the challenges of manufacturing smart products, the manufacturing plants have been radically changed to become smart factories underpinned by industry 4.0 technologies. The transformation is assisted by employment of machine learning techniques that can deal with modeling both big or limited data. This manuscript reviews these concepts and present a case study that demonstrates the use of a novel intelligent hybrid algorithms for Industry 4.0 applications with limited data. In particular, an intelligent algorithm is proposed for robust data modeling of nonlinear systems based on input-output data. In our approach, a novel hybrid data-driven combining the Group-Method of Data-Handling and Singular-Value Decomposition is adapted to find an offline deterministic model combined with Pareto multi-objective optimization to overcome the overfitting issue. An Unscented-Kalman-Filter is also incorporated to update the coefficient of the deterministic model and increase its robustness against data uncertainties. The effectiveness of the proposed method is examined on a set of real industrial measurements.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MaurischatPerkins2020,
  author    = {Maurischat, Andreas and Perkins, Rudolph},
  title     = {Taylor coefficients of Anderson generating functions and Drinfeld torsion extensions},
  number    = {Vol. 18, No. 01},
  publisher = {World Scientific},
  address   = {Singapur},
  doi       = {10.1142/S1793042122500099},
  pages     = {113 -- 130},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {We generalize our work on Carlitz prime power torsion extension to torsion extensions of Drinfeld modules of arbitrary rank. As in the Carlitz case, we give a description of these extensions in terms of evaluations of Anderson generating functions and their hyperderivatives at roots of unity. We also give a direct proof that the image of the Galois representation attached to the p-adic Tate module lies in the p-adic points of the motivic Galois group. This is a generalization of the corresponding result of Chang and Papanikolas for the t-adic case.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HeinEubanksHibberdetal.2020,
  author    = {Hein, Andreas M. and Eubanks, T. Marshall and Hibberd, Adam and Fries, Dan and Schneider, Jean and Lingam, Manasvi and Kennedy, Robert and Perakis, Nikolaos and Dachwald, Bernd and Kervella, Pierre},
  title     = {Interstellar Now! Missions to and sample returns from nearby interstellar objects},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  pages     = {1 -- 8},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The recently discovered first high velocity hyperbolic objects passing through the Solar System, 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, have raised the question about near term missions to Interstellar Objects. In situ spacecraft exploration of these objects will allow the direct determination of both their structure and their chemical and isotopic composition, enabling an entirely new way of studying small bodies from outside our solar system. In this paper, we map various Interstellar Object classes to mission types, demonstrating that missions to a range of Interstellar Object classes are feasible, using existing or near-term technology. We describe flyby, rendezvous and sample return missions to interstellar objects, showing various ways to explore these bodies characterizing their surface, dynamics, structure and composition. Interstellar objects likely formed very far from the solar system in both time and space; their direct exploration will constrain their formation and history, situating them within the dynamical and chemical evolution of the Galaxy. These mission types also provide the opportunity to explore solar system bodies and perform measurements in the far outer solar system.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SeefeldtDachwald2021,
  author    = {Seefeldt, Patric and Dachwald, Bernd},
  title     = {Temperature increase on folded solar sail membranes},
  series = {Advances in Space Research},
  volume    = {67},
  journal   = {Advances in Space Research},
  number    = {9},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0273-1177},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.asr.2020.09.026},
  pages     = {2688 -- 2695},
  year      = {2021},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{GrundmannBieleDachwaldetal.2017,
  author    = {Grundmann, Jan Thimo and Biele, Jens and Dachwald, Bernd and Grimm, Christian D. and Lange, Caroline and Ulamec, Stephan and Ziach, Christian and Spr{\"o}witz, Tom and Ruffer, Michael and Seefeldt, Patric and Spietz, Peter and Toth, Norbert and Mimasu, Yuya and Rittweger, Andreas and Bibring, Jean-Pierre and Braukhane, Andy and Boden, Ralf Christian and Dumont, Etienne and Jahnke, Stephan Siegfried and Jetzschmann, Michael and Kr{\"u}ger, Hans and Lange, Michael and Gomez, Antonio Martelo and Massonett, Didier and Okada, Tatsuaki and Sagliano, Marco and Sasaki, Kaname and Schr{\"o}der, Silvio and Sippel, Martin and Skoczylas, Thomas and Wejmo, Elisabet},
  title     = {Small landers and separable sub-spacecraft for near-term solar sails},
  series = {The Fourth International Symposium on Solar Sailing 2017},
  booktitle = {The Fourth International Symposium on Solar Sailing 2017},
  pages     = {1 -- 10},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Following the successful PHILAE landing with ESA's ROSETTA probe and the launch of the MINERVA rovers and the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout, MASCOT, aboard the JAXA space probe, HAYABUSA2, to asteroid (162173) Ryugu, small landers have found increasing interest. Integrated at the instrument level in their mothership they support small solar system body studies. With efficient capabilities, resource-friendly design and inherent robustness they are an attractive exploration mission element. We discuss advantages and constraints of small sub-spacecraft, focusing on emerging areas of activity such as asteroid diversity studies, planetary defence, and asteroid mining, on the background of our projects PHILAE, MASCOT, MASCOT2, the JAXA-DLR Solar Power Sail Lander Design Study, and others. The GOSSAMER-1 solar sail deployment concept also involves independent separable sub-spacecraft operating synchronized to deploy the sail. Small spacecraft require big changes in the way we do things and occasionally a little more effort than would be anticipated based on a traditional large spacecraft approach. In a Constraints-Driven Engineering environment we apply Concurrent Design and Engineering (CD/CE), Concurrent Assembly, Integration and Verification (CAIV) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Near-term solar sails will likely be small spacecraft which we expect to harmonize well with nano-scale separable instrument payload packages.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{SpurmannOhndorfDachwaldetal.2009,
  author    = {Spurmann, J{\"o}rn and Ohndorf, Andreas and Dachwald, Bernd and Seboldt, Wolfgang and L{\"o}b, Horst and Schartner, Karl-Heinz},
  title     = {Interplanetary trajectory optimization for a sep mission to Saturn},
  series = {60th International Astronautical Congress 2009},
  booktitle = {60th International Astronautical Congress 2009},
  isbn      = {9781615679089},
  pages     = {5234 -- 5248},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {The recently proposed NASA and ESA missions to Saturn and Jupiter pose difficult tasks to mission designers because chemical propulsion scenarios are not capable of transferring heavy spacecraft into the outer solar system without the use of gravity assists. Thus our developed mission scenario based on the joint NASA/ESA Titan Saturn System Mission baselines solar electric propulsion to improve mission flexibility and transfer time. For the calculation of near-globally optimal low-thrust trajectories, we have used a method called Evolutionary Neurocontrol, which is implemented in the low-thrust trajectory optimization software InTrance. The studied solar electric propulsion scenario covers trajectory optimization of the interplanetary transfer including variations of the spacecraft's thrust level, the thrust unit's specific impulse and the solar power generator power level. Additionally developed software extensions enabled trajectory optimization with launcher-provided hyperbolic excess energy, a complex solar power generator model and a variable specific impulse ion engine model. For the investigated mission scenario, Evolutionary Neurocontrol yields good optimization results, which also hold valid for the more elaborate spacecraft models. Compared to Cassini/Huygens, the best found solutions have faster transfer times and a higher mission flexibility in general.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{LoebSchartnerDachwaldetal.2007,
  author    = {Loeb, Horst Wolfgang and Schartner, Karl-Heinz and Dachwald, Bernd and Seboldt, Wolfgang},
  title     = {SEP-Sample return from a main belt asteroid},
  series = {30th International Electric Propulsion Conference},
  booktitle = {30th International Electric Propulsion Conference},
  pages     = {1 -- 11},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {By DLR-contact, sample return missions to the large main-belt asteroid "19, Fortuna" have been studied. The mission scenario has been based on three ion thrusters of the RIT-22 model, which is presently under space qualification, and on solar arrays equipped with triple-junction GaAs solar cells. After having designed the spacecraft, the orbit-to-orbit trajectories for both, a one-way SEP mission with a chemical sample return and an all-SEP return mission, have been optimized using a combination of artificial neural networks with evolutionary algorithms. Additionally, body-to-body trajectories have been investigated within a launch period between 2012 and 2015. For orbit-to-orbit calculation, the launch masses of the hybrid mission and of the all-SEP mission resulted in 2.05 tons and 1.56 tons, respectively, including a scientific payload of 246 kg. For the related transfer durations 4.14 yrs and 4.62 yrs were obtained. Finally, a comparison between the mission scenarios based on SEP and on NEP have been carried out favouring clearly SEP.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{DachwaldMengaliQuartaetal.2007,
  author    = {Dachwald, Bernd and Mengali, Giovanni and Quarta, Alessandro A and Macdonald, Malcolm and McInnes, Colin R},
  title     = {Optical solar sail degradation modelling},
  series = {1st International Symposium on Solar Sailing},
  booktitle = {1st International Symposium on Solar Sailing},
  pages     = {1 -- 27},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {We propose a simple parametric OSSD model that describes the variation of the sail film's optical coefficients with time, depending on the sail film's environmental history, i.e., the radiation dose. The primary intention of our model is not to describe the exact behavior of specific film-coating combinations in the real space environment, but to provide a more general parametric framework for describing the general optical degradation behavior of solar sails.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Dachwald2005,
  author    = {Dachwald, Bernd},
  title     = {Optimization of very-low-thrust trajectories using evolutionary neurocontrol},
  series = {Acta Astronautica},
  volume    = {57},
  journal   = {Acta Astronautica},
  number    = {2-8},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam [u.a.]},
  isbn      = {1879-2030},
  pages     = {175 -- 185},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {Searching optimal interplanetary trajectories for low-thrust spacecraft is usually a difficult and time-consuming task that involves much experience and expert knowledge in astrodynamics and optimal control theory. This is because the convergence behavior of traditional local optimizers, which are based on numerical optimal control methods, depends on an adequate initial guess, which is often hard to find, especially for very-low-thrust trajectories that necessitate many revolutions around the sun. The obtained solutions are typically close to the initial guess that is rarely close to the (unknown) global optimum. Within this paper, trajectory optimization problems are attacked from the perspective of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Inspired by natural archetypes, a smart global method for low-thrust trajectory optimization is proposed that fuses artificial neural networks and evolutionary algorithms into so-called evolutionary neurocontrollers. This novel method runs without an initial guess and does not require the attendance of an expert in astrodynamics and optimal control theory. This paper details how evolutionary neurocontrol works and how it could be implemented. The performance of the method is assessed for three different interplanetary missions with a thrust to mass ratio <0.15mN/kg (solar sail and nuclear electric).},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{SchoutetensDachwaldHeiligers2021,
  author    = {Schoutetens, Frederic and Dachwald, Bernd and Heiligers, Jeannette},
  title     = {Optimisation of photon-sail trajectories in the alpha-centauri system using evolutionary neurocontrol},
  series = {8th ICATT 2021},
  booktitle = {8th ICATT 2021},
  pages     = {1 -- 15},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {With the increased interest for interstellar exploration after the discovery of exoplanets and the proposal by Breakthrough Starshot, this paper investigates the optimisation of photon-sail trajectories in Alpha Centauri. The prime objective is to find the optimal steering strategy for a photonic sail to get captured around one of the stars after a minimum-time transfer from Earth. By extending the idea of the Breakthrough Starshot project with a deceleration phase upon arrival, the mission's scientific yield will be increased. As a secondary objective, transfer trajectories between the stars and orbit-raising manoeuvres to explore the habitable zones of the stars are investigated. All trajectories are optimised for minimum time of flight using the trajectory optimisation software InTrance. Depending on the sail technology, interstellar travel times of 77.6-18,790 years can be achieved, which presents an average improvement of 30\% with respect to previous work. Still, significant technological development is required to reach and be captured in the Alpha-Centauri system in less than a century. Therefore, a fly-through mission arguably remains the only option for a first exploratory mission to Alpha Centauri, but the enticing results obtained in this work provide perspective for future long-residence missions to our closest neighbouring star system.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{SeefeldtBauerDachwaldetal.2015,
  author    = {Seefeldt, Patric and Bauer, Waldemar and Dachwald, Bernd and Grundmann, Jan Thimo and Straubel, Marco and Sznajder, Maciej and T{\´o}th, Norbert and Zander, Martin E.},
  title     = {Large lightweight deployable structures for planetary defence: solar sail propulsion, solar concentrator payloads, large-scale photovoltaic power},
  series = {4th IAA Planetary Defense Conference - PDC 2015, 13-17 April 2015, Frascati, Roma, Italy},
  booktitle = {4th IAA Planetary Defense Conference - PDC 2015, 13-17 April 2015, Frascati, Roma, Italy},
  pages     = {24},
  year      = {2015},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{Dachwald2017,
  author    = {Dachwald, Bernd},
  title     = {Radiation pressure force model for an ideal laser-enhanced solar sail},
  series = {4th International Symposium on Solar Sailing},
  booktitle = {4th International Symposium on Solar Sailing},
  pages     = {1 -- 5},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {The concept of a laser-enhanced solar sail is introduced and the radiation pressure force model for an ideal laser-enhanced solar sail is derived. A laser-enhanced solar sail is a "traditional" solar sail that is, however, not solely propelled by solar radiation, but additionally by a laser beam that illuminates the sail. The additional laser radiation pressure increases the sail's propulsive force and can give, depending on the location of the laser source, more control authority over the direction of the solar sail's propulsive force vector. This way, laser-enhanced solar sails may augment already existing solar sail mission concepts and make novel mission concepts feasible.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{DachwaldKahleWie2007,
  author    = {Dachwald, Bernd and Kahle, Ralph and Wie, Bong},
  title     = {Head-on impact deflection of NEAs: a case study for 99942 Apophis},
  series = {Planetary Defense Conference 2007},
  booktitle = {Planetary Defense Conference 2007},
  pages     = {1 -- 12},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 99942 Apophis provides a typical example for the evolution of asteroid orbits that lead to Earth-impacts after a close Earth-encounter that results in a resonant return. Apophis will have a close Earth-encounter in 2029 with potential very close subsequent Earth-encounters (or even an impact) in 2036 or later, depending on whether it passes through one of several less than 1 km-sized gravitational keyholes during its 2029-encounter. A pre-2029 kinetic impact is a very favorable option to nudge the asteroid out of a keyhole. The highest impact velocity and thus deflection can be achieved from a trajectory that is retrograde to Apophis orbit. With a chemical or electric propulsion system, however, many gravity assists and thus a long time is required to achieve this. We show in this paper that the solar sail might be the better propulsion system for such a mission: a solar sail Kinetic Energy Impactor (KEI) spacecraft could impact Apophis from a retrograde trajectory with a very high relative velocity (75-80 km/s) during one of its perihelion passages. The spacecraft consists of a 160 m × 160 m, 168 kg solar sail assembly and a 150 kg impactor. Although conventional spacecraft can also achieve the required minimum deflection of 1 km for this approx. 320 m-sized object from a prograde trajectory, our solar sail KEI concept also allows the deflection of larger objects. For a launch in 2020, we also show that, even after Apophis has flown through one of the gravitational keyholes in 2029, the solar sail KEI concept is still feasible to prevent Apophis from impacting the Earth, but many KEIs would be required for consecutive impacts to increase the total Earth-miss distance to a safe value},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{GrundmannBodenCeriottietal.2017,
  author    = {Grundmann, Jan Thimo and Boden, Ralf and Ceriotti, Matteo and Dachwald, Bernd and Dumont, Etienne and Grimm, Christian D. and Lange, Caroline and Lichtenheldt, Roy and Pelivan, Ivanka and Peloni, Alessandro and Riemann, Johannes and Spr{\"o}witz, Tom and Tardivel, Simon},
  title     = {Soil to sail-asteroid landers on near-term sailcraft as an evolution of the GOSSAMER small spacecraft solar sail concept for in-situ characterization},
  series = {5th IAA Planetary Defense Conference},
  booktitle = {5th IAA Planetary Defense Conference},
  pages     = {30 Seiten},
  year      = {2017},
  language  = {en}
}
@incollection{Dachwald2010,
  author    = {Dachwald, Bernd},
  title     = {Solar sail dynamics and control},
  series = {Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering},
  booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  doi       = {10.1002/9780470686652.eae292},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Solar sails are large and lightweight reflective structures that are propelled by solar radiation pressure. This chapter covers their orbital and attitude dynamics and control. First, the advantages and limitations of solar sails are discussed and their history and development status is outlined. Because the dynamics of solar sails is governed by the (thermo-)optical properties of the sail film, the basic solar radiation pressure force models have to be described and compared before parameters to measure solar sail performance can be defined. The next part covers the orbital dynamics of solar sails for heliocentric motion, planetocentric motion, and motion at Lagrangian equilibrium points. Afterwards, some advanced solar radiation pressure force models are described, which allow to quantify the thrust force on solar sails of arbitrary shape, the effects of temperature, of light incidence angle, of surface roughness, and the effects of optical degradation of the sail film in the space environment. The orbital motion of a solar sail is strongly coupled to its rotational motion, so that the attitude control of these soft and flexible structures is very challenging, especially for planetocentric orbits that require fast attitude maneuvers. Finally, some potential attitude control methods are sketched and selection criteria are given.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{SeboldtDachwald2003,
  author    = {Seboldt, Wolfgang and Dachwald, Bernd},
  title     = {Solar sails for near-term advanced scientific deep space missions},
  series = {Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Combustion and Propulsion},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Combustion and Propulsion},
  pages     = {14 Seiten},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {Solar sails are propelled in space by reflecting solar photons off large mirroring surfaces, thereby transforming the momentum of the photons into a propulsive force. This innovative concept for low-thrust space propulsion works without any propellant and thus provides a wide range of opportunities for highenergy low-cost missions. Offering an efficient way of propulsion, solar sailcraft could close a gap in transportation options for highly demanding exploration missions within our solar system and even beyond. On December 17th, 1999, a significant step was made towards the realization of this technology: a lightweight solar sail structure with an area of 20 m × 20 m was successfully deployed on ground in a large facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) at Cologne. The deployment from a package of 60 cm × 60 cm × 65 cm with a total mass of less than 35 kg was achieved using four extremely light-weight carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) booms with a specific mass of 100 g/m. The paper briefly reviews the basic principles of solar sails as well as the technical concept and its realization in the ground demonstration experiment, performed in close cooperation between DLR and ESA. Next possible steps are outlined. They could comprise the in-orbit demonstration of the sail deployment on the upper stage of a low-cost rocket and the verification of the propulsion concept by an autonomous and free flying solar sail in the frame of a scientific mission. It is expected that the present design could be extended to sail sizes of about (40 m)2 up to even (70 m)2 without significant mass penalty. With these areas, the maximum achievable thrust at 1 AU would range between 10 and 40 mN - comparable to some electric thrusters. Such prototype sails with a mass between 50 and 150 kg plus a micro-spacecraft of 50 to 250 kg would have a maximum acceleration in the order of 0.1 mm/s2 at 1 AU, corresponding to a maximum ∆V-capability of about 3 km/s per year. Two near/medium-term mission examples to a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) will be discussed: a rendezvous mission and a sample return mission.},
  language  = {en}
}