Solar Sails (2nd Ed., 2nd ed. 2015)
A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel
Space Exploration Series

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Language: English

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277 p. · 16.8x24 cm · Paperback
The reality of sunlight-based sailing in space began in May 2010, and solar sail technology and science have continued to evolve rapidly through new space missions. Using the power of the Sun's light for regular travel propulsion will be the next major leap forward in our journey to other worlds. This book is the second edition of the fascinating explanation of solar sails, how they work and how they will be used in the exploration of space. Updated with 35% new material, this second edition includes three new chapters on missions operated by Japan and the US, as well as projects that are in progress. The remainder of the book describes the heritage of exploration in water-borne sailing ships and the evolution to space-vehicle propulsion; as well as nuclear, solar-electric, nuclear-electric and antimatter rocket devices. It also discusses various sail systems that may use either sunlight or solar wind, and the design, fabrication and steering challenges associated with solar sails. The first edition was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and deemed ?a title that needs to be on your shelf if you?re seriously interested in the next step as we move beyond rocketry" (Centauri Dreams, September 2008). Written with a mixed approach, this book appeals to both the general public as well as those with a more scientifically technical background.
Acknowledgements.- Preface.- Foreword. Part I: Space Engines: Past and Present.- A Historical Introduction to Space Propulsion.- The Rocket: How It Works in Space.- Rocket Problems and Limitations- Non-Rocket-In-Space Propulsion.- The Solar-Sail Reality: from the Oceans to Space.- Part II Space Mission by Sail.- Principles of Space Sailing.- What is a Space Sailcraft?- Sails vs. Rockets.- Exploring and Developing Space by Sailcraft.- Riding a Beam of Light.- Part III Construction of Sailcraft.- Designing a Solar Sail.- Building a Sailcraft.- Progress to Date.- Future Plans.- Part IV Breakthroughs in Space.- The IKAROS/JAXA Mission.- The NanoSail-D2/NASA Mission.- New Projects in Progress.- Part V Space Sailing: Some Technical Aspects.- Space Sources of Light.- Modeling Thrust via Electromagnetic Radiation Pressure and Diffraction- Sailcraft Trajectories.- Sails in Space Environment.

Giovanni Vulpetti received his Ph.D. in plasma physics in 1973. Subsequently, he specialized in astrodynamics. He wrote many tens of scientific papers about astrodynamics, advanced propulsion concepts, and interstellar flight, with particular regard to matter-antimatter annihilation propulsion. In 1979, he joined Telespazio SpA (Rome, Italy). From 1995 to 2011, he has attended the committee for Lunar Base & Mars exploration of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). He has been involving in solar-photon sailing since 1992. In the 1990s, he found out new types of sailcraft trajectories and published his theory mainly on Acta Astronautica, JPL workshops, and IAA symposia. In 1994, he was elected a Full Member of IAA. In spring 1997, he was a consultant at ESA/ESTEC about the solar-sail mission concept Daedalus. In 1979-2004, he contributed to 11 Italian and European space programs. In 2001, he was a  consultant at NASA/MSFC for the NASA Interstellar Probe. In the course of two decades, he accomplished some large computer codes devoted to mission analysis & trajectory optimization via rockets and/or solar-sails. In the 90s, he was a member of the IAA committee for small satellites and, consequently, he participated in the design of Telespazio TemiSat (launched in August 1993). During 2006-2007, he joined Galilean Plus (Rome, Italy) as chief scientist, and participated in the program of the Italian Space Agency for lunar explorations. To date, he has published about 120 research papers and reports. He was a COSPAR-Associate in 2002-2007. In 2009 and 2014, he served as managing guest editor of Acta Astronautica special issues. He wrote the book Fast Solar Sailing, Astrodynamics of Special Sailcraft Trajectories, Space Technology Library 30, Springer 2012. Since spring 2013, he has been a guest lecturer on the physics of in-space propulsion at the Dept. of Astronautical Engineering of University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’.

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Presents details of space-vehicle propulsion (solar sailing), operations of systems that may use sunlight or solar wind and design and construction of these vehicles

Updated with 35% new material from the first edition, including approximately 40 new figures and three new chapters dedicated to the historical missions operated by Japan and the USA

Written at a level for the general population but interspersed with areas of more technical explanation at an undergraduate level, as was done in the first edition and reviewed as, “By using common nomenclature, the book easily conveys the necessary scientific elements to both a generalist and a space enthusiast” (Mark Mortimer, Universe Today, March, 2009)

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras