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    • Showing only topics in ~space with the tag "solar sails". Back to normal view / Search all groups

    2. NASA newest solar sail system launched (2024-04-23)

      Text 103 words
      If this tech interests you keep an eye out for June/July when they expect to deploy the sail. Rocket Lab’s Electron blasted off at 6:32 p.m. ET on April 23, successfully delivering both payloads...

      If this tech interests you keep an eye out for June/July when they expect to deploy the sail.

      Rocket Lab’s Electron blasted off at 6:32 p.m. ET on April 23, successfully delivering both payloads to low Earth orbit. - Gizmodo

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      After a busy initial flight phase, which will last about two months and includes subsystems checkout, the microwave oven-sized CubeSat will deploy its reflective solar sail. The weeks-long test consists of a series of pointing maneuvers to demonstrate orbit raising and lowering, using only the pressure of sunlight acting on the sail. - NASA

      https://www.nasa.gov/mission/acs3/

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