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A solar sail is designed to capture the tiny amounts of radiation pressure exerted by sunlight to propel a spacecraft to incredible speeds. The advantages are numerous: by acting like a sailing ship in space, a solar sail-powered spacecraft would be relatively simple in its construction and wouldn't rely on heavy and costly propellants.
That's why it was so exciting when NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System mission was deployed to put the concept to the test. The microwave-sized CubeSa, the diminutive spacecraft has subsequently begun "tumbling or wobbling" in orbit. Its fate remains unknown, as the motion was reportedly expected.
"The brightness variation could be suggestive of a slow tumble or wobble that must have been initiated after August 29, when it appeared more steady," he wrote. "There might be other explanations though."Satellite tracker s2a systems corroborated Lanbroek's findings, noticing a possible "slow rotation."
"We cannot directly confirm Dr. Langbroek's observations, but consider his conclusion to be quite plausible," the Swiss company's managing director Roger Spinner — yes, that's really his name — told"The spacecraft is currently tumbling as part of a planned sail deployment sequence," NASA public affairs specialist Jasmine Hopkins toldBefore it successfully unfurled its massive sail, ACS3 already encountered some difficulties.
By lowering the spacecraft's mass and making it more resistant to solar radiation, the agency is hoping to bring the concept of low-cost solar sail missions into deep space closer to reality.NASA Will Attempt to Launch Boeing's Troubled Starliner Away From Space Station as Fast as Possible, Just in Case
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