Solar sail test rescheduled for mid-July
Posted: Mon, Jun 11, 2001, 5:33 PM ET (2133 GMT)
The suborbital test flight of a solar sail has now been rescheduled for mid-July after an accident earlier in the year delayed the launch, The Planetary Society reported Monday. The flight of "Cosmos 1", to be carried out by a Volna sub-launched rocket, had been scheduled for April but was postponed when a short-circuit from a preflight checkout caused the spacecraft's inflatable reentry shield to deploy, damaging the spacecraft. Planetary Society executive director Lou Friedman said that the damage to the spacecraft has been repaired and that they are now waiting for a launch slot from the Russian Navy, which they anticipate to be in mid-July. The suborbital flight will test the deployment mechanism of a solar sail that will be flown on a later orbital mission, tentatively scheduled for late this year. The privately-funded mission will be the first use of a solar sail in space. The society also reported that a documentary about the mission, being produced by society partner Cosmos Studios, will air on the cable television network A&E next year.
The suborbital test flight of a solar sail has now been rescheduled for mid-July after an accident earlier in the year delayed the launch, The Planetary Society reported Monday. The flight of "Cosmos 1", to be carried out by a Volna sub-launched rocket, had been scheduled for April but was postponed when a short-circuit from a preflight checkout caused the spacecraft's inflatable reentry shield to deploy, damaging the spacecraft. Planetary Society executive director Lou Friedman said that the damage to the spacecraft has been repaired and that they are now waiting for a launch slot from the Russian Navy, which they anticipate to be in mid-July. The suborbital flight will test the deployment mechanism of a solar sail that will be flown on a later orbital mission, tentatively scheduled for late this year. The privately-funded mission will be the first use of a solar sail in space. The society also reported that a documentary about the mission, being produced by society partner Cosmos Studios, will air on the cable television network A&E next year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Blue Origin describes plans for increased New Glenn launch rates
Posted: Sat, Oct 17 11:41 AM ET (1541 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, October 23
Help a lost lunar rover find its way in new ESA competition
ESA — 6:44 am ET (1044 GMT) Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg in running to join European space mission
NEWS.com.au — 6:44 am ET (1044 GMT) Throttling Starlink Is a Disaster for Ukraine and the United States
CSIS — 6:42 am ET (1042 GMT) Trump Says Starlink Limits Are Gone—Ukraine Says the Signal Still Dies at 100 MPH
United24 Media — 6:40 am ET (1040 GMT) Starlink still restricted for Ukraine despite Trump saying Musk lifted speed limits
POLITICO — 6:39 am ET (1039 GMT) |
