A NASA mission testing a new way of navigating our solar system is ready to hoist its sail into space – not to catch the wind, but the propulsive power of
sunlight. Theis targeting launch on Tuesday, April 23 aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand.
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket will deploy the mission’s CubeSat about 600 miles above Earth – more than twice the altitude of the International Space Station. To test the performance of NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, the spacecraft must be in a high enough orbit for the tiny force of sunlight on the sail – roughly equivalent to the weight of a paperclip resting on your palm – to overcome atmospheric drag and gain altitude.
After a busy initial flight phase, which will last about two months and includes subsystems checkout, the microwave oven-sizedwill deploy its reflective solar sail. The weeks-long test consists of a series of pointing maneuvers to demonstrate orbit raising and lowering, using only the pressure of sunlight acting on the sail.
Stay tuned for updates as NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System sets out to prove its ability to sail across space, increasing access and enabling low-cost missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.project and designed and built the onboard camera diagnostic system. NASA’s Langley Research Center in Langley, Virginia, designed and built the deployable composite booms and solar sail system.
General Langley Research Center NASA Centers & Facilities Small Spacecraft Technology Program Space Technology Mission Directorate
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA to hoist its sail: Solar sail mission gets ready for launchA NASA mission testing a new way of navigating our solar system is ready to hoist its sail into space—not to catch the wind, but the propulsive power of sunlight.
Read more »
NASA's Solar Sail Mission to Test New Space Travel MaterialsA NASA solar sail mission using new composite booms is scheduled to lift off on April 24. The mission aims to test new space travel materials in Earth's orbit.
Read more »
NASA Next-Generation Solar Sail Boom Technology Ready for LaunchSailing through space might sound like something out of science fiction, but the concept is no longer limited to books or the big screen. In April, a
Read more »
Solar sail breakthrough: Future NASA spacecraft could be powered by SunSailing through space is no longer limited to books or movies. NASA's the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System can revolutionize space journeys.
Read more »
NASA's Next Solar Sail is About to Go to SpaceNASA is launching the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System. The technology could be used to support much larger sails than before.
Read more »
NASA Is Set to Launch Its Next-Gen Solar Sail Into Deep SpaceThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »