NASA's Advanced Solar Sail Successfully Deploys in Space

NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System has successfully completed the deployment of its sail-hoisting boom system, marking a key milestone for the mission. The confirmation of this achievement came at 1:33 p.m. EDT (10:33 a.m. PDT) on Thursday, Aug. 29, after mission operators received telemetry data from the spacecraft. Four onboard cameras captured a sweeping view of the reflective sail and the supporting composite booms. High-resolution images from these cameras are set to be released on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Over the next few weeks, mission teams will conduct a series of tests to evaluate the sail's maneuvering capabilities in space. These tests will involve adjusting the spacecraft's orbit to gather critical data that could influence future designs and operational concepts for solar sail-equipped science and exploration missions.

The spacecraft is currently orbiting Earth at roughly twice the altitude of the International Space Station. From this vantage point, the sail, now fully extended, forms a square with an area of approximately 860 square feet (80 square meters), comparable to half the size of a tennis court. Observers on Earth may be able to spot the Solar Sail System as it passes overhead, depending on timing and location. For details on when and where to see the spacecraft, follow updates on NASA.gov and @NASAAmes on social media.