The Satellite sail
Abstract
It is proposed to suspend an airfoil from the Space Shuttle by a long tether into the upper atmosphere to provide a horizontal force on the Shuttle, thereby changing its orbital plane most efficiently. The airfoil would need high-temperature skin and tether, and remotely controlled flaps to adjust its angle of attack. The airfoil could also be used as a hypersonic facility to measure aerodynamic characteristics at extreme altitudes and velocities. This use would require a vertical lift force to counteract the drag force and prevent the Shuttle orbit from decaying too rapidly during the aerodynamic measurements.
- Publication:
-
In NASA. Marshall Space Flight Center Appl. of Tethers in Space
- Pub Date:
- March 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985apts....2.....P
- Keywords:
-
- Airfoils;
- Sails;
- Space Shuttles;
- Spacecraft Control;
- Tethering;
- Aerodynamic Characteristics;
- Angle Of Attack;
- Remote Control;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles