What is the one leaving solar system? Voyager, I believe it is. The
attitude control paddles are on the ends of the solar array panels.
These paddles are not the entire attitude control. If I remember right,
there are CMGs for primary, gas jets to desaturate wheel, and the solar
paddles. The paddles take some of the load off the CMGs, so they do not
approach saturation as often. There is a limited supply of gas, and
using it too often to unload CMGs would exhaust gas sooner.

Now, my memory is not as good as it should be, so maybe it was not
Voyager, but one of the later probes that went out to Jupiter and Saturn
(Mariner?). I know it was a deep space probe series, but it has been a
lot of years since I worked with it, so I am having a hard time
remembering its name. Anyway, it is one with four solar arrays, with a
paddle at end of each array. Clearly visible in pictures.

wrote:

Don Stauffer wrote in message ...
A number of deep space probes have had solar reflector attitude control
panels. These use the photons to help stabilize or move the craft to a
new attitude using the photon momentum.

Um? A number of craft have had solar power panels. Which craft
have had solar reflector attitude control?

There have been many proposals
over the years for solar sail propulsion for space probes.

Proposals yes. Examples built, none.
Socks

--
Don Stauffer in Minnesota

webpage- http://www.usfamily.net/web/stauffer