Most Advanced Solar Sail Launched into Space

Despite being the size of a toaster, NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) can deploy an ultra-thin plastic sail in approximately 25 minutes, covering an area of 860 ft² (80 m²) with a boom extending from the size of a hand to 23 ft (7 m) in length.

While it’s not the first solar sail sent into space, its boom, constructed from lightweight polymer composites and designed to stow flat, represents a significant advancement in creating lighter and more stable solar sails.

Electron Rocket Successfully Deploys ACS3 and KAIST’s NEONSAT-1

Following a 32-minute delay caused by technical issues, the Electron rocket successfully launched carrying the ACS3 and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s (KAIST) NEONSAT-1, an Earth observation satellite.

After clearing the launch pad, the rocket surpassed the speed of sound at 55 seconds and experienced maximum dynamic pressure (Max-Q) at one minute and seven seconds.

The first stage engine shut down two minutes and 24 seconds into the flight, followed by the separation of the second stage four seconds later. The second stage ignited three seconds after separation.

At nine minutes and 11 seconds into the flight, the second stage engine turned off, and the Kick Stage separated four seconds later. The first stage then performed an orbital maneuver to ensure it burned up in Earth’s atmosphere, preventing it from becoming space debris.

NEONSAT-1 Enters Orbit, ACS3 Awaits Sun-Synchronous Deployment

Fifty minutes after launch, NEONSAT-1 was successfully placed in a 323-mile (520-km) circular orbit around Earth. The ACS3 had to wait until one hour and 45 minutes post-launch to deploy into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 600 miles (1,000 km).

The Kick Stage’s Curie engine enables this flexibility by allowing multiple restarts to position payloads in various orbits without requiring their own onboard propulsion. Once its tasks were complete, the Kick Stage followed its trajectory for atmospheric burnup.

Data gathered from the NASA solar sail mission will inform the design of sails that can scale up to 21,500 ft² (2,000 m²) – roughly half the size of a soccer field.

These expansive sails, harnessing solar winds and maneuvering like traditional sailing ships, will enable long-distance missions traveling at impressive speeds without the need for traditional propellants.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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