{"id":186770,"date":"2024-09-10T10:19:14","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T14:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspenet.com\/noticias\/nasa-tests-solar-sail-in-solar-in-orbit\/"},"modified":"2024-11-07T09:10:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T13:10:17","slug":"nasa-tests-solar-sail-in-solar-in-orbit","status":"publish","type":"noticias","link":"https:\/\/inspenet.com\/en\/news\/nasa-tests-solar-sail-in-solar-in-orbit\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA tests its composite solar sail system in orbit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NASA continues to make progress with its innovative Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3)<\/strong>, a technology deployed on a CubeSat<\/strong>, a small satellite that serves as a test platform. ACS3 uses reflective panels that, when driven by the sun’s sunlight<\/a><\/strong> The ACS3 uses reflective panels that, when driven by sunlight, allow the spacecraft to perform maneuvers without the need for chemical fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main objective of this mission is to demonstrate the operation of the deployment and attitude control of the solar sails<\/a><\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Solar
ACS3 solar sail system. Source: NASA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Future operations and orbit control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>, 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<\/strong> to modify the altitude of the CubeSat<\/a><\/strong> an important achievement in the development of this technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n