SOLAR PHOTON THRUSTOR

A space vehicle that uses a solar sail for propulsion can be significantly improved in performance by separating the function of collecting the solar photons from the function of reflecting the solar photons. In the Solar Photon Thrustor concept, the collector is a large reflecting surface similar in size and mass per unit area to that of a standard flat solar sail. The collector always faces the sun so as to present the maximum area for collection of sunlight. The collector is also designed to be a light concentrator. The concentrated sunlight is sent to a reflecting surface of much smaller mass, which redirects the light at the proper angle to provide the desired direction of net force. Since the collector surface is always facing the sun no matter what the desired direction of thrust, the Solar Photon Thrustor always operates in a maximum solar light power collection mode. © 1989 by Robert L. Forward. © The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.