NASA continues to make progress with its innovative Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3), a technology deployed on a CubeSat, a small satellite that serves as a test platform. ACS3 uses reflective panels that, when driven by the sun’s sunlight The ACS3 uses reflective panels that, when driven by sunlight, allow the spacecraft to perform maneuvers without the need for chemical fuel.
The main objective of this mission is to demonstrate the operation of the deployment and attitude control of the solar sails. Upon completion of the extension of its composite arms, which support the large reflective sails, the spacecraft experienced a controlled wobble, part of the test plan.
This behavior is essential to understand how this technology will work in future long-duration missions, where solar sails could be used as an efficient and sustainable means of propulsion.
Future operations and orbit control
Currently, mission engineers are analyzing data on the spacecraft’s flight dynamics. The next step is to stabilize the spacecraft using the attitude control system, which will stop the wobbling motion. Subsequently, maneuvers will be executed to alter the spacecraft’s orbit and evaluate the ability of the solar sail to modify the altitude of the CubeSat an important achievement in the development of this technology.
The ACS3 solar sail is a new way to explore the cosmos. Source: NASA
The use of solar sails, which harness the momentum of photons from the sun, could reduce reliance on traditional propulsion systems, could reduce dependence on traditional propulsion systems. This demonstration is key to validating the feasibility of this technology for future interplanetary missions, asteroid explorations, and satellites long-distance satellite explorations.
Watch the solar sail from Earth
The ACS3 system, with its reflective sails fully deployed, can be observed from Earth at certain times. NASA has added a new feature to its mobile app that allows the public to follow the CubeSat’s trajectory and share their photos with the hashtag #SpotTheSail. Due to the spacecraft’s rotation, its visibility and brightness can vary, offering a unique visual experience in the night sky.
With four wide-angle cameras aboard CubeSat, NASA continues to receive images and data that will help refine the solar sail system. This mission represents an important step toward the implementation of solar sails on future large-scale missions, opening up new possibilities for the deep space exploration.
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Source and photos: NASA
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