CubeSail (UltraSail)

[2] This mission was a first in a series of increasingly-complex planned demonstrations leading up to a full-scale UltraSail heliogyro[3] by the University of Illinois and CU Aerospace.

The Heliogyro spacecraft's attitude (orientation), and therefore thrust direction, would be controlled by changing the cyclic and collective blade pitch similar to a helicopter.

The University of Illinois together with CU Aerospace designed this mission to demonstrate deployment and to measure the thrust on a 7.7 cm × 250 m membrane (about 20 m2) made of aluminized mylar.

[15] CubeSail and I-Sail are intended as steps towards the development of a larger (1,600 kg[16]) solar sail concept called UltraSail for interplanetary and interstellar missions.

[17] This last consists of multiple CubeSail-like structures that extend kilometers long film blades attached to a central hub to ultimately form a heliogyro.

[19] The maximum expected thrust force due to solar pressure is equivalent to 400 kW ion thruster systems used for comparable deep space missions.

Artist's concept of a heliogyro, proposed to visit Halley's Comet in 1986. Each blade would be 8 m (26 ft) wide and 6.2 km (3.9 mi), for 0.6 km 2 (0.23 sq mi) of sail area.
Solar sail types. A heliogyro could have dozens of blades