Temperature increase on folded solar sail membranes

Abstract All currently considered solar sail designs require the deployment of a thin reflective membrane. This membrane is stowed using some folding technique and sometimes coiled onto spool. The temperature deployed critical aspect for design. Depending on geometry imprinted lines, sunlight may be reflected inside lines which would locally increase analysis presented here aims quantification that increase. Microscope images 7.5 μ m thick polyimide reveal different tensioning states. In addition, opening are analysed with finite-element beam model. After determination as function state, it how many reflections appear in line depending its angle oriented perpendicular to Sun. Two cases investigated, deep space low-Earth orbit. It shown that, even small states, does not allow more than only two reflections. material, this can cause slight also depends investigated case (deep or orbit).