How Solar Sails Use Moving Vanes to Steer in Space
A solar sail design that uses multiple independently moving reflective vanes made of shape-memory materials to steer spacecraft using only the pressure of sunlight.
Original patent title: “Solar sail for orbital maneuvers”
A solar sail design that uses multiple independently moving reflective vanes made of shape-memory materials to steer spacecraft using only the pressure of sunlight. Granted to LGarde Inc in 2024 with 22 claims and 7 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a spacecraft propulsion system that captures solar radiation pressure—the tiny force exerted by light hitting a surface—to move through space. Instead of one giant, rigid sail, it uses a central bus (the main body) attached to multiple separate vanes. These vanes are built with shape-memory composites, allowing them to be folded tightly for launch and then spring back into their intended shape once in orbit. Each vane is connected to the bus via actuators that provide either one or two degrees of rotational freedom, letting the craft tilt its sails to change direction or adjust thrust, similar to how a sailboat adjusts its sails to catch the wind.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover solar sails that use a single, continuous, non-segmented sail surface.
- Does not cover propulsion systems that rely on chemical or electric thrusters rather than solar radiation pressure.
- Does not cover vanes that lack the ability to move or rotate relative to the central bus.
- Does not cover rigid sail structures that cannot be folded or stowed using shape-memory materials.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in using shape-memory composites for the support frame, which allows the sail to be stowed in a compact, non-structured way during launch and then automatically deploy into a precise, functional geometry without complex mechanical hinges.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Small satellite (CubeSat) propulsion systems
Deep space scientific probes
Interplanetary transit vehicles
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Solar sails are a promising technology for deep-space exploration because they do not require heavy fuel. By enabling precise steering through movable vanes, this patent addresses a major hurdle in sail technology: the ability to perform complex orbital maneuvers without needing traditional propellant. This is critical for low-cost, long-duration missions to the outer solar system or beyond.
Filed
September 9, 2021
Granted
February 20, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
LGarde Inc. is the primary developer here, known for their long-standing work on inflatable space structures and solar sails. Other entities like NASA (specifically the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System project) and private space startups are actively researching similar deployable membrane technologies for small-satellite propulsion.
Market impact
This patent strengthens the intellectual property landscape for small-satellite propulsion, potentially making solar sails a more viable commercial option for private space companies. It shifts the focus from 'can we deploy a sail' to 'can we steer a sail,' which is necessary for moving toward practical, mission-ready solar sail spacecraft.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a spacecraft propulsion system that captures solar radiation pressure—the tiny force exerted by light hitting a surface—to move through space. Instead of one giant, rigid sail, it uses a central bus (the main body) attached to multiple separate vanes. These vanes are built with shape-memory composites, allowing them to be folded tightly for launch and then spring back into their intended shape once in orbit. Each vane is connected to the bus via actuators that provide either one or two degrees of rotational freedom, letting the craft tilt its sails to change direction or adjust thrust, similar to how a sailboat adjusts its sails to catch the wind.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in using shape-memory composites for the support frame, which allows the sail to be stowed in a compact, non-structured way during launch and then automatically deploy into a precise, functional geometry without complex mechanical hinges.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover solar sails that use a single, continuous, non-segmented sail surface.
- Does not cover propulsion systems that rely on chemical or electric thrusters rather than solar radiation pressure.
- Does not cover vanes that lack the ability to move or rotate relative to the central bus.
- Does not cover rigid sail structures that cannot be folded or stowed using shape-memory materials.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
18/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$67K – $216K
Midpoint $135K · 15.2 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Garber, D. D., & Barnes, N. C. (2024). How Solar Sails Use Moving Vanes to Steer in Space (U.S. Patent No. 11,905,044). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11905044/starlink-rv-roaming
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Solar Sails Use Moving Vanes to Steer in Space cover?
A solar sail design that uses multiple independently moving reflective vanes made of shape-memory materials to steer spacecraft using only the pressure of sunlight.
Who owns patent US 11905044?
LGarde Inc owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 20, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11905044 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Solar sails are a promising technology for deep-space exploration because they do not require heavy fuel. By enabling precise steering through movable vanes, this patent addresses a major hurdle in sail technology: the ability to perform complex orbital maneuvers without needing traditional propellant. This is critical for low-cost, long-duration missions to the outer solar system or beyond.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover solar sails that use a single, continuous, non-segmented sail surface.
Patent monitoring