Calculadora de Aceleração por Vela Solar — Formula

Solar Sail Acceleration

A perfectly reflecting solar sail receives momentum from reflected sunlight.

Formula

a = 2S * A / (c * m * d squared)

  • *S* = 1361 W/m2 (solar constant at 1 AU)
  • *A* = sail area
  • *c* = speed of light (2.998 x 10^8 m/s)
  • *m* = total mass
  • *d* = distance from the Sun in AU

    • The factor of 2 accounts for perfect reflection (momentum change = 2p).

    Exemplo Resolvido

    10 000 m2 sail, 100 kg spacecraft, at 1 AU.

    1. a = 2 * 1361 * 10000 / (2.998e8 * 100 * 1)
    2. a = 27 220 000 / 2.998e10
    3. a = 9.08e-4 m/s2
    4. About 92.6 micro-g