Sails

• The sails are large, thin, reflective sheets that are pushed by sunlight.
• Current designs use a thin film of space qualified plastic like Kapton that is coated with a mirrored layer of aluminum.
• For more information see: Sail Film

Booms

• The booms are structural members that hold the sails flat so they can reflect sunlight without collapsing.
• IKAROS spins, using centripetal acceleration to hold the sail flat.
• For more information see:
  • Three-Axis Stabilized
  • Spin Stabilized

Spacecraft bus

The spacecraft bus houses all the systems required to operate the sail and carry out the mission. It typically contains:

• Flight computer
• Solar arrays and power system
• Radios and antennas for communication
• Scientific instruments and other payloads
• Navigation and steering sensors

Steering vanes

• Steering vanes are small sails at the boom tips that can rotate.
• They push the main sail to point in the direction you want to go.
• They work like airplane flaps and ailerons to steer the sail.
• For more information see: Attitude Control