NanoSail-D
From SolarSailWiki
NanoSail-D was a NASA mission to deploy a 10 m2 solar sail from a CubeSat. The mission ended on August 2nd, 2008, when the Falcon 1 rocket carrying it failed to reach orbit. NanoSail-D2 is the backup to spacecraft that was launched on November 19, 2010, as a payload of the FASTSAT. NanoSail-D2 successfully ejected from FASTSAT and deployed the sail on January 20th, 2010, at 10:00pm EST. NanoSail-D2 will remain visible in orbit until it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, estimated at 2-4 months from deployment. NASA and Spaceweather.com are holding a photo contest while NanoSail-D2 remains in orbit.
Links
- NanoSail-D Mission Page
- NanoSail-D photo contest
- NanoSail-D2 Mission Dashboard
- NanoSail-D Mission Overview
- Help track NanoSail-D
References
- NASA Partners On Nanosail-D Amateur Astronomy Image Contest
- Solar Sail Stunner
- NASA's First Solar Sail NanoSail-D Deploys in Low-Earth Orbit
- News: NanoSail-D to launch Friday, November 19, 2010
- Science@NASA article: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/26jun_nanosaild.htm
- Discovery Channel story: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/07/09/solar-sail.html
- YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW1Pf0uMSug
- NASA Marshall Space Flight Center: NASA and Contractor Team Develop One Fast Satellite
