Analysis of the Performance Characteristics of a Gossamer Sail for Nanosatellite Applications

The growing population of space debris poses an increasing threat to spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit. By taking advantage of aerodynamic drag, a gossamer sail can be used to dramatically reduce the time it will take for a satellite to deorbit. In addition to rapid deorbit time, a gossamer sail also offers the capability of stabilizing a satellite’s attitude. The deployment system utilizes compressed nitrogen gas to inflate booms that unfurl the sail. A ground prototype has been built and repeatedly tested to demonstrate the feasibility of the sail’s deployment system. The results of the deorbiting and attitude control simulations are presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of the system’s intended usage