Malcolm Macdonald, C. McGrath, T. Appourchaux, Bernd Dachwald, W. Finsterle, L. Gizon, P. C. Liewer, Colin R. McInnes, G. Mengali, W. Seboldt, T. Sekii, S. K. Solanki, M. Velli, R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber, Peter Spietz, Ruedeger Reinhard
- A technology reference study for a solar polar mission is presented. The study uses novel analytical methods to quantify the mission design space including the required sail performance to achieve a given solar polar observation angle within a given timeframe and thus to derive mass allocations for the remaining spacecraft sub-systems, that is excluding the solar sail sub-system. A parametric, bottom-up, system mass budget analysis is then used to establish the required sail technology to deliver a range of science payloads, and to establish where such payloads can be delivered to within a given timeframe. It is found that a solar polar mission requires a solar sail of side-length 100–125 m to deliver a ‘sufficient value’ minimum science payload, and that a 2.5 μm sail film substrate is typically required, however the design is much less sensitive to the boom specific mass.
