Solar sail launch date set
Posted: Tue, May 24, 2005, 8:33 AM ET (1233 GMT)
The Planetary Society announced Monday that it will launch Cosmos 1, its solar sail spacecraft, next month from a Russian submarine. Launch of Cosmos 1 on a Volna, a converted Russian sub-launched ballistic missile, is scheduled for a launch window that opens June 21. Once in space, Cosmos 1 will deploy a 30-meter solar sail, using light pressure to gradually expand the spacecraft's orbit. The spacecraft will be the first orbital test of a solar sail, although the technology has been tested in groundbased experiments and suborbital flights. Later in the mission the spacecraft will be used to test if the spacecraft can be propelled by microwaves beamed from the Earth.
The Planetary Society announced Monday that it will launch Cosmos 1, its solar sail spacecraft, next month from a Russian submarine. Launch of Cosmos 1 on a Volna, a converted Russian sub-launched ballistic missile, is scheduled for a launch window that opens June 21. Once in space, Cosmos 1 will deploy a 30-meter solar sail, using light pressure to gradually expand the spacecraft's orbit. The spacecraft will be the first orbital test of a solar sail, although the technology has been tested in groundbased experiments and suborbital flights. Later in the mission the spacecraft will be used to test if the spacecraft can be propelled by microwaves beamed from the Earth.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 24
Rocket Lab chief opens up about Neutron delays, New Glenn’s success, and NASA science
Ars Technica — 11:46 pm ET (0446 GMT) It’s official: Boeing’s next flight of Starliner will be allowed to carry cargo only
Ars Technica — 11:45 pm ET (0445 GMT) Rivals object to SpaceX’s Starship plans in Florida—who’s interfering with whom?
Ars Technica — 11:45 pm ET (0445 GMT) Amazon Leo starts to roll out its fastest satellite internet service — and reveals just how fast it’ll be
GeekWire — 11:45 pm ET (0445 GMT) Thales Alenia Space Finalises Industrial Team for ESA’s Argonaut Lunar Lander
European Spaceflight — 11:44 pm ET (0444 GMT) |
