Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator 'IKAROS' Successful Attitude Control by Liquid Crystal Device

When I saw this I thought of the  Crookes radiometer with its four black and white vanes spinning inside a glass bulb when it sat in the Sun light.


I was wrong. IKAROS is in a true vacuum and uses sunlight pressure, while the Crookes radiometer is using the movement of air molecules around the paddles in a partial vacuum.   Learn something new everyday.
- LRK -

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http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/07/20100723_ikaros_e.html
 Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator 'IKAROS' Successful Attitude Control by Liquid Crystal Device

                                                 July 23, 2010 (JST)
                           Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) performed an attitude control experiment (*1) of the solar sail of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS," after its deployment, using an attitude control device, or the liquid crystal device, on July 13, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, the following dates and time are  JST, unless otherwise noted. ) We have since confirmed that the attitude control performance was successfully accomplished as planned through post-experiment data verification and analysis. The IKAROS  was launched from the Tanegahima Space Center on May 21, 2010.


The liquid crystal device is a thin-film instrument to change the surface reflection characteristics of sunlight by turning on and off the power of the device. It is an engineering test device to control attitude using only sunlight pressure without any additional propellant.

Two kinds of technologies are extremely important for a spin solar sail, like the IKAROS's sail: one is technology to generate small attitude control torque (*2) constantly without causing oscillation on the large flexible sail, and the other is technology to control the direction (attitude) of large angular momentum generated by the spinning membrane without consuming propellant. The attitude control method using sunlight pressure is one of the most feasible methods for satisfying the above two technological requirements, and JAXA has been a global leader in developing this original method.

JAXA will continue the attitude control experiment by the IKAROS to evaluate the details of the attitude control performance while continuing to conduct research on attitude control technology using sunlight pressure as a technology that enables navigation for longer in time and further in distance by a solar sail.

*1 The IKAROS usually uses its onboard thrusters attached to its main body, not the liquid crystal device, for attitude control during normal operations.

*2 Torque is a moment of force to rotate an object about an axis or pivot. For the attitude control experiment using the liquid crystal device this time, the attitude control torque was minimal as sunlight pressure was used for attitude control, thus, by generating torque constantly, it was possible to control attitude without causing vibration on the membrane.

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http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/index_e.html
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Some on the Crookes radiometer.
- LRK -

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer

The Crookes radiometer, also known as the light mill, consists of an airtight glass bulb, containing a partial vacuum. Inside are a set of vanes which are mounted on a spindle. The vanes rotate when exposed to light, with faster rotation for more intense light, providing a quantitative measurement of electromagnetic radiation intensity. The reason for the rotation has historically been a cause of much scientific debate.[1][2]

It was invented in 1873 by the chemist Sir William Crookes as the by-product of some chemical research. In the course of very accurate quantitative chemical work, he was weighing samples in a partially evacuated chamber to reduce the effect of air currents, and noticed the weighings were disturbed when sunlight shone on the balance.  Investigating this effect, he created the device named after him. It is still manufactured and sold as a novelty item.
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http://www.howstuffworks.com/question239.htm
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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SPACE EXPLORATION WORKSHOP May 25-26, 2010 --- NSS ISDC 2010 May 27-31, 2010 --- IKAROS

Best be informed.
- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/may/HQ_M10-081_Exploration_Charts.html
MEDIA ADVISORY : M10-081

NASA Announces Posting Of Space Exploration Workshop Charts

WASHINGTON -- Presentation charts for the opening-day briefings of NASA's Exploration Enterprise Workshop in Galveston, Texas, will be posted online at noon EDT, Monday, May 24.

The two-day workshop brings together a broad community of space exploration stakeholders from government, industry and academia. The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate's plans for human and robotic space exploration and the administration's fiscal year 2011 budget request for the agency will be discussed.

The charts represent a starting point that will be refined throughout the summer and coming years. They capture the results of planning as of May 25, but do not represent final plans. Any specific launch dates and missions are likely to change to reflect the addition of the Orion Emergency Rescue Vehicle, updated priorities, and new information from NASA's partners.

The charts provide a basis for engagement with outside organizations, including international entities, industry, academia and other government agencies. Involving outside groups helps NASA make informed decisions as program objectives and expectations are established. To view workshop presentations, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/new_space_enterprise/home/workshop_home.html

or

http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=2486

For more information about NASA's exploration programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

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Watch the talking.
- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/new_space_enterprise/home/workshop_home.html
May 25 - 26, 2010
Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center
Galveston, TX

The first day of the conference will provide an overview of NASA's "point of departure" plans for technologies and missions. This will serve as a starting point for further refinement.

Day 1 of the conference will be streamed live!

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Also watch here.
- LRK -

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http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=2486
 NASA Exploration Enterprise Workshop
25 - 26 May 2010
Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center
Galveston, Texas

On Feb. 1, 2010, the President released the FY 2011 Budget Request.  The budget proposes several exciting new programs that seek to foster a sustainable human space exploration enterprise. NASA will host an Exploration Enterprise Workshop that brings together a broad community of stakeholders from industry, academia and the U.S. federal government to discuss these changes.

The Agency has completed the initial phase of planning for the new technology and robotic programs and will provide insight into the progress to date. The open workshop will also encourage participants to engage in discussions related to strategy building, development, and the implementation of the new plans for human and robotic exploration in space. The objectives are to:

   * Convey progress in planning toward the new programs
   * Discuss proposed program assignments
   * Solicit feedback, ideas and suggestions from interested parties
   * Prepare for the next steps once the new programs are implemented

The first day of the conference will provide an overview of NASA’s “point of departure” plans for technologies and missions. This will serve as a starting point for further refinement. Breakout sessions on the second day of the conference will focus on specific plans for maturing technologies, conducting flight  demonstrations, and building commercial capabilities. In preparation for the event, several requests for information (RFI) will be released and discussed at the conference.

For inquiries, please contact: Penny Ritch, AIAA Customer Service, via phone at 703.264.7510 or via email at pennyr.aiaa.org

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and out Chicago way, the NSS and folks.
- LRK -

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http://isdc.nss.org/2010/
National Space Society's
29th International Space Development Conference
May 27-31, 2010
InterContinental O'Hare Hotel - Chicago, Illinois
The National Space Society's 29th annual International Space
Development Conference is just a few days away!  ISDC 2010 will feature leaders from across the space community:

Some of those attending this year's ISDC are:

   * NASA Administrator Charles Bolden
   * Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin
   * Scientist and author Freeman Dyson
   * Apollo 9 astronaut and B612 Foundation Chairman Rusty Schweickart
   * Former NSS Executive Director and new CEO of Virgin Galactic George Whitesides
   * X-Cor Aerospace President Jeff Greason
   * NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver
   * Civilian astronaut Richard Garriott
   * Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson
   * Mars Society President Robert Zubrin

These are just a few of the many Speakers that will be sharing their views on the future of space exploration.
http://isdc.nss.org/2010/?page=speakers

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While out is Space with hardware being tested, and update from Japan's IKAROS.
See pictorial at the link below and wish them luck when they unfurl the sail.
- LRK -

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http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100524_ikaros_e.html
IKAROS moves to Verification Experiment Phase

May 24, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) completed the initial operation check of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS," which was launched on May 21, 2010 (Japan Standard Time,) from the Tanegashima Space Center. 

 

We will take a few weeks to carry out the first verification experiments, namely deployment of the solar sail and solar power generation by thin film solar cells.

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Mission web site - LRK -
http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/index_e.html
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I am still reading about how our government makes decisions or not.
Not all that encouraging
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http://www.amazon.com/Agendas-Alternatives-Public-Policies-2nd/dp/0673523896
Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies (2nd Edition) [Paperback]
John W. Kingdon
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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