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NASA Successfully Deploys 860 sq ft Advanced Composite Solar Sail into Orbit

Sep 9, 2024, 06:00 PM

NASA has successfully deployed its largest solar sail, the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, into Earth orbit. The solar sail, which spans 860 square feet, uses ultra-thin sheets of reflective material to capture the Sun's ionic energy emissions, allowing it to propel its cargo at high speeds without additional fuel sources. The spacecraft, launched over six months ago on Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, recently deployed its composite booms. NASA has released the first photo of the solar sail while tumbling in space, taken by an engineering camera monitoring its deployment. A 13-second exposure photograph taken on Sept. 2, 2024, from Arlington, Virginia, shows the sail orbiting Earth. Stargazers can spot the solar sail in the night sky and find out when it will be visible in their area using the NASA app.