Design and Characterization of a Small-Scale Solar Sail Prototype by Integrating NiTi SMA and Carbon Fibre Composite
Solar sails are propellantless systems where the propulsive force is given by the momentum exchange of reflecting photons.In this study, a self-deploying system based on NiTi shape memory wires and sheets has been designed and manufactured.A small-scale prototype of solar sail with carbon fibre loom has been developed.Different configurations have