Posted: Tue, Jan 25, 2011, 6:45 AM ET (1145 GMT)
An experimental small satellite unexpected deployed last week and unfurled a solar sail, NASA officials said. NanoSail-D was supposed to eject from the FASTSAT last month, but engineers found no evidence that the spacecraft actually deployed. However, for reasons still unknown, NanoSail-D ejected from FASTSAT last week, and on Friday engineers confirmed that the small satellite deployed a nine-square-meter solar sail. The satellite will remain in orbit for up to 120 days before deorbiting, although lack of radio contacts with the satellite indicate that the spacecraft's battery has been exhausted.

Related Links:

•  Huntsville Times article
•  SPACE.com article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  USA Today article
•  NASA press release