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NASA Successfully Deploys Massive Solar Sail in Earth's Orbit, Visible from Ground
Sep 6, 2024, 01:02 PM
NASA has successfully deployed a massive solar sail in Earth's orbit, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The solar sail, which spans 860 square feet, was launched over six months ago on RocketLab's Electron rocket. Recently, the sail's composite booms were deployed, allowing it to catch emissions from the Sun and convert them into propulsion. This achievement comes 60 years after Arthur C. Clarke's concept of the Sunjammer. The solar sail is currently in a sun-synchronous orbit, tumbling in space, and is visible from the ground, especially in the night sky. NASA has also released the first photo of the solar sail, taken by an onboard engineering camera.
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