Patent ID: 11958637
Assignee: GEOSHADE CORPORAL
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 8:
9. A method of deploying a solar sail spacecraft (hereinafter “spacecraft”) in orbit, the method comprising:
deploying a hub;
deploying a rim coupled to and encircling the hub, the rim having a plurality of spools around which are wound a first plurality of cables connected to the rim;
coupling a first one of a second plurality of cables encircling the rim to a first position on each of the first plurality of cables;
coupling a first plurality of solar sail panel assemblies, each having a respective reflective solar sail, to the first one of the second plurality of cables; using centrifugal force to unspool and extend the first plurality of cables a first distance in a radial direction from the rim, thereby positioning the first one of the second plurality of cables coupled to each of the first plurality of cables, and the first plurality of solar sail panel assemblies coupled to the first one of the second plurality of cables, the first distance in the radial direction from the rim;
coupling a second one of the second plurality of cables encircling the rim to a second position on each of the first plurality of cables;
coupling a second plurality of solar sail panel assemblies, each having a reflective solar sail, to the second one of the second plurality of cables;
using centrifugal force to further unspool and further extend the first plurality of cables a second distance in the radial direction from the rim, thereby positioning the second one of the second plurality of cables coupled to each of the first plurality of cables, and the second plurality of solar sail panel assemblies coupled to the second one of the second plurality of cables, the second distance in the radial direction from the rim and positioning the first one of the second plurality of cables coupled to each of the first plurality of cables, and the first plurality of solar sail panel assemblies coupled to the first one of the second plurality of cables, a third distance in a radial direction from the rim that is a sum of the first distance and the second distance.