Solar Sail CubeSat Has Deployed from Rocket

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2024-04-24 11:00:05

NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System is confirmed to have deployed from Rocket Lab’s Electron kick stage. The satellite has reached low Earth orbit to begin its mission to test next-generation technology that uses the power of sunlight as propulsion.

Next, the solar sail satellite will power up and attempt initial contact with the ground; a process that may occur overnight or in the next several days.

NASA Ames manages the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System project and designed and built the onboard camera diagnostic system. NASA Langley designed and built the deployable composite booms and solar sail system. NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program   office based at NASA Ames and led by the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), funds and manages the mission. NASA STMD’s   Game Changing Development program   developed the deployable composite boom technology. Rocket Lab USA, Inc of   Long Beach, California is providing launch services. NanoAvionics is providing the spacecraft bus. 