Space sails are a continuum of lightweight, thin, large-area, deployable technologies which are pushing forward new frontiers in space mobility and exploration. They encompass solar sails, laser-driven sails, drag sails, magnetic sails, electric sails, deployable membrane reflectors, deployable membrane antennas, and solar power sails. Some have been flight tested with operational heritage, while some are concepts planned to reach maturity in the coming decades. The number of flown and planned missions has increased rapidly in the past fifteen years. In this context, it is time to recognise the advantages of space sails for supporting the achievement of a wide range of major space exploration goals. This paper evaluates, for the first time, synergies between the broad spectrum of space sail technologies, and major space exploration ambitions around the world. The study begins by looking to the past, performing a global, historical review of space sails and related enabling technologies. The current state of the art is mapped against this technological heritage. Looking to the future, a review of major space exploration goals in the next decades is conducted, highlighting domains where space sails may offer transformational opportunities. It is hoped that this paper will further the ongoing transition of space sails from a promising flight-proven technology into a go-to component of space mission programme planning.

中文翻译：

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实现主要太空探索目标的太空帆：历史回顾和未来展望


太空帆是轻质、薄、大面积、可部署技术的连续体，正在推动太空机动和探索的新前沿。它们包括太阳能帆、激光驱动帆、阻力帆、磁帆、电动帆、可展开膜反射器、可展开膜天线和太阳能帆。有些已经通过操作遗产进行了飞行测试，而有些是计划在未来几十年内达到成熟的概念。在过去的 15 年里，已飞行和计划中的任务数量迅速增加。在此背景下，现在是时候认识到太空帆在支持实现广泛的主要太空探索目标方面的优势了。本文首次评估了广泛的太空帆技术与世界各地的主要太空探索雄心之间的协同作用。该研究首先回顾过去，对太空帆和相关使能技术进行全球历史回顾。当前的技术水平与这一技术遗产相映成趣。展望未来，对未来几十年的主要太空探索目标进行了回顾，强调了太空帆可能提供转型机会的领域。希望本文将进一步推动太空帆从一种有前途的飞行验证技术转变为太空任务计划规划的首选组成部分。