NASA’S CUBESAT SUCCESSFULLY UNFURLS SOLAR SAIL SYSTEM, SPACE TRAVEL TESTING BEGINS
It’s been months since we heard about the then “proximate” test of NASA’s Cubesat and testing how it’s solar sail would be unfurled, showing us all what is likely the future of space travel. It should be obvious to space exploration and travel enthusiasts that the test didn’t happen on schedule. And as an avid all things involving space enthusiast (not including being stranded there), I’m happy to finally report that not only are the solar sails on the Cubesat unfurled, the test is now underway! Now we get to eagerly see how the various stages of the test go.
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NOW WE’LL SEE HOW WELL PHOTONS FROM THE SUN PROPEL THE CUBESAT FOR TRAVEL
It was only yesterday, Thursday August 30th at 1:33 PM EST, that NASA was able to successfully extend the experimental booms. So now we will finally get to witness what happens next: how the solar sail technology mounted to those booms work, and how well. NASA is now starting the testing, putting the Cubesat through a variety of maneuvers to see how well the energy of the sun powers the craft. In other words, how well will the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System absorb photons from the sun’s rays, and power this craft for travel?
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NASA Set to Test Solar Sail On Rocket Lab’s Electron Vehicle
FIRST TWO MONTHS FOR CUBESAT IS THE INITIAL FLIGHT STAGE, SO LOOK TO THE HEAVENS WHILE YOU CAN
The solar sail system, now fully deployed, covers a space of 860 square feet, the equivalent to half a tennis court. Currently, the Cubesat with unfurled “wings” is in orbit at about twice the distance of the International Space Station. But that half a tennis court is still sizable enough to be seen from the surface of the Earth, despite its distance. So if your night sky is clear and the time is right, look to the heavens in the coming weeks. The initial flight stage will last two months.
