First LightSail mission unfurls its wings
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028939
New Scientist : The first Planetary Society mission to demonstrate its LightSail solar sailing technology launched last month. The tiny spacecraft, called a CubeSat, hitched a ride into Earth orbit aboard an Atlas V rocket. Despite initial problems with its computer and other issues, the craft has now successfully deployed its 32-m2 sail, which is designed to reflect photons emitted by the Sun and use the momentum to propel the craft. Because the spacecraft is not flying at a high enough altitude to escape the effects of our planet’s atmospheric drag, it will fall back to Earth within a few days. However, a second, full-fledged solar sailing demonstration is scheduled to launch next year.
