Solar Surfing

We propose to develop a novel high temperature coating that will reflect up to 99.9 % of the Sun's total irradiance, roughly a factor of 80 times better than the current state-of-the-art. This will be accomplished by leveraging off of our low temperature coating, currently being developed under NIAC funding. We will modify our existing models to determine an optimal high temperature solar reflector, predict its performance, and construct a prototype version of this coating. This prototype will be sent to our partner at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory where it will be tested in an 11 times solar simulator. The results of this modeling/testing will be used to design a mission to the Sun, where we hope to come to within one solar radius of the Sun's surface, 8 times closer than the closest distance planned for the upcoming Solar Probe Plus. This project will substantially advance the current capabilities of solar thermal protection systems, not only potentially allowing Solar Surfing, but allowing better thermal control of a future mission to Mercury.

This project will substantially advance the current capabilities of solar thermal protection systems, not only potentially allowing "Solar Surfing", but allowing better thermal control of a future mission to Mercury.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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