• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.228-239
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• 2016

CNUSAIL-1 is a 3U-sized cube satellite with $4m^2$ small solar sail which is currently being developed at the Chungnam National University. The primary purpose of the CNUSAIL-1 is successful sail deployment in LEO and its operation for investigating its effect on satellite orbit and attitude as well as performing de-orbiting using the sail membranes as drag sail at the final phase. The system design and mechanism of solar sail deployment is introduced, and optical and tensile tests are carried out for the material of membranes and booms for its safety and performance verification. The ground test is carried out to verify its performance for sail deployment and satellite through comparison between folding methods by determining its folding patterns, thickness of spiral spring and angular velocity measurement in a low-friction environment.

• Current Industrial and Technological Trends in Aerospace
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.24-30
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• 2010

Space solar sails are a form of spacecraft propulsion using the radiation pressure of light from a star or laser to push enormous ultra-thin mirrors to high speeds. With respect to it, U.S.A, Japan, E.U. and Russia, etc. have performed a substantial research and the space flight test. On May 2010, JAXA succeeded in launching the world's first interplanetary solar sail spacecraft "IKAROS" to Venus. Currently, solar sail propulsion is aimed chiefly at accomplishing a number of non-crewed missions in any part of the solar system and beyond. This paper presents the technology trend of advanced countries on the development of the solar sails as a new propulsion method for the space investigation and travel.