Planetary Society announces solar sail plans
Posted: Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 6:13 AM ET (1113 GMT)
The Planetary Society announced Monday plans to fly as many as three solar sail missions in the coming years to demonstrate the technology behind the concept. The first of the three LightSail spacecraft is scheduled for launch in late 2010, although a specific launch vehicle has not been selected yet. The small spacecraft, based on CubeSat designs, will weigh about 5 kilograms at launch and deploy a 32-square-meter Mylar sail once in orbit. Future LightSail missions will demonstrate the ability to fly into higher orbits and, eventually, the Earth-Sun L-1 libration point. The program is being supported by a $1-million donation from an anonymous benefactor. The Planetary Society previously attempted a solar sail project, Cosmos 1, but the spacecraft was lost when its Russia Volna rocket failed to reach orbit in 2005.
The Planetary Society announced Monday plans to fly as many as three solar sail missions in the coming years to demonstrate the technology behind the concept. The first of the three LightSail spacecraft is scheduled for launch in late 2010, although a specific launch vehicle has not been selected yet. The small spacecraft, based on CubeSat designs, will weigh about 5 kilograms at launch and deploy a 32-square-meter Mylar sail once in orbit. Future LightSail missions will demonstrate the ability to fly into higher orbits and, eventually, the Earth-Sun L-1 libration point. The program is being supported by a $1-million donation from an anonymous benefactor. The Planetary Society previously attempted a solar sail project, Cosmos 1, but the spacecraft was lost when its Russia Volna rocket failed to reach orbit in 2005.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, February 13
Air Force pares contracts in cost-reduction move
Washington Post — 4:36 am ET (0936 GMT) Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!
Jacksonville (NC) Daily News — 4:32 am ET (0932 GMT) Glenn stands behind continued exploration
Zanesville (OH) Times-Recorder — 4:31 am ET (0931 GMT) Countdown to Poland's first ever satellite launch
Polskie Radio — 4:29 am ET (0929 GMT) Isro chief: No dent on image
PTI — 4:26 am ET (0926 GMT) |