Difference between revisions of "News"

From SolarSailWiki
Share/Save/Bookmark
Jump to: navigation, search
(Replaced content with "See the News Archive for older news items. See Help:News for information on adding news items. [http://wiki.solarsails.info/index.php?title=Special%3ANewsChannel&f...")
 
(12 intermediate revisions by one user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
See the [[News Archive]] for older news items.
 
See the [[News Archive]] for older news items.
 
See [[Help:News]] for information on adding news items.
 
See [[Help:News]] for information on adding news items.
Use the "RSS" and "Atom" links in the "Toolbox" on the left side to subscribe to this new feed.
+
[http://wiki.solarsails.info/index.php?title=Special%3ANewsChannel&format=rss20&limit=10&cat1=&cat2=&excat1=&wpSubmitNewsChannelParams=Create+feed Subscribe to feed].
  
<startFeed/>
+
<rss>http://wiki.solarsails.info/index.php?title=Special%3ANewsChannel&format=rss20&limit=10&cat1=&cat2=&excat1=&wpSubmitNewsChannelParams=Create+feed</rss>
 
+
==NanoSail-D Status: Unclear whether NanoSail-D deployed from FASTSAT==
+
 
+
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html
+
 
+
Telemetry from [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html FASTSAT] indicated successful ejection of [[NanoSail-D]] (see [[News#NanoSail-D ejected from FASTSAT|NanoSail-D ejected from FASTSAT]]). However, [http://www.nasa.gov/ NASA] reports that they have not been able to confirm this. [[NanoSail-D]] has a radio beacon and was scheduled to deploy the sail on December 9th, 2010, neither of which has been observed. The [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html FASTSAT] team is investigating.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:28, 13 December 2010 (EST)
+
 
+
==NanoSail-D ejected from FASTSAT==
+
 
+
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/10-162.html
+
 
+
[[NanoSail-D]] ejected successfully from [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html FASTSAT] on December 6th, 2010, at 1:31am EST. The 3x3m sail is set to deploy on a timer 3 days after ejection. There is no word yet on reception of [[NanoSail-D]]'s radio beacon.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 10:00, 7 December 2010 (EST)
+
 
+
==NanoSail-D to launch Friday, November 19, 2010==
+
 
+
Launch of [[NanoSail-D]] is planned on Friday, November 19, 2010 from the [http://www.akaerospace.com/klc_overview.html Kodiak, Alaska, Launch Complex], and will deploy from [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html NASA's FASTSAT]. [[NanoSail-D]] will test deployment of a 10 square-meter (100 square-foot) solar sail from a 10x10x30 cm [[wikipedia:CubeSat|CubeSat]]. The mission will also test deorbit using the sail, because atmospheric drag at the low altitude will likely dominate [[Solar Sailing 101#How Does Light Push a Solar Sail|light pressure]]. This is the backup spacecraft to the original [[NanoSail-D]], which was lost when the [http://www.spacex.com/F1-003.php Falcon-1] rocket it was on failed to reach orbit in 2008.
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm NanoSail-D2 Mission Dashboard]
+
* [http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/pdf/484314main_NASAfactsNanoSail-D.pdf NanoSail-D Fact Sheet]
+
* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/10-109.html NASA Feature Article: Sailing Among the Stars]
+
* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html NanoSail-D Mission Page]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 10:13, 18 November 2010 (EST)
+
 
+
===Updates===
+
 
+
The [[wikipedia:Minotaur IV|Minotaur IV]] launch vehicle successfully reached orbit, and released the [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html FASTSAT] spacecraft. [[NanoSail-D]] will eject from [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html FASTSAT] in 7 days, and the sail will deploy in 9 days.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 20:54, 19 November 2010 (EST)
+
 
+
[[NanoSail-D]] is go for ejection from [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/index.html FASTSAT] on Monday Dec 6 2010 at 12:15am CST (6:15am UTC).
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:05, 5 December 2010 (EST)
+
 
+
Ejection should have occurred. It may take as long as a few hours to determine via ground tracking if the ejection succeeded.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 01:22, 6 December 2010 (EST)
+
 
+
==Second International Symposium on Solar Sailing Completed in Brooklyn, New York==
+
 
+
http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/isss2010/
+
 
+
The Second International Symposium on Solar Sailing ran from July 20-22, 2010, in Brooklyn, New York. The conference marked a remarkable step forward in the field of solar sailing. Several talks were given on Japan's [[IKAROS]] spacecraft, which was celebrated for demonstrating a solar sail spacecraft for the first time, and continues to sail on to Venus. Other talks described several small solar sail "nanosatellites" under development, which are planned to fly over the next few years. Other talks covered recent advances in understanding solar sail orbits, hybrid solar sail / solar electric missions, missions to test relativity, climate & weather observation, space weather, communications, alternative sail designs, and others. Refer to the [http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/isss2010/ conference website] for abstracts, program, proceedings, and (coming soon) the presentations. 
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:58, 2 August 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
===Update===
+
 
+
* The talks from ISS2010 are now available from the [http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/isss2010/program.shtml program page].
+
* The [http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/isss2010/declaration.shtml New York Declaration] on the state of solar sailing has been released.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:10, 17 August 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Demonstrates Attitude Control with Solar Pressure==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/07/20100723_ikaros_e.html
+
 
+
The [[IKAROS]] mission succeeded in steering using solar pressure. As the sail spins, liquid crystal devices along the edges change from reflective to non-reflective. Sunlight pushes harder on the reflective panels, so that one sail edge is pushed harder than the other, causing the sail to turn. Spacecraft like [[Mariner 10]] have used solar pressure to point them before.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:45, 2 August 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Acceleration by Solar Pressure Confirmed==
+
 
+
[http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/07/20100709_ikaros_e.html Press release (English)]
+
[http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/07/20100709_ikaros_j.html Press release (Japanese)]
+
 
+
JAXA confirmed that the [[IKAROS]] spacecraft has generated the expected acceleration from the pressure of sunlight. This effect has been predicted for over a century since [[wikipedia:James Clerk Maxwell|James Clerk Maxwell's]] studies of electromagnetism. Every spacecraft flown since [[wikipedia:Sputnik|Sputnik]] has been affected, to varying degrees, by sunlight pushing on it. Several [[Category:Missions|missions]] have used solar pressure to their advantage. This is the first time a spacecraft specifically designed to propel itself on sunlight - a true solar sail - has done so. Congratulations to the [[IKAROS]] team on their accomplishment! I look forward to seeing what else [[IKAROS]] will accomplish in the days to come.
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/ikaros_channel/bn011.html IKAROS Channel July 9 2010 (Japanese)] and [http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jspec.jaxa.jp%2Fikaros_channel%2Findex.html&sl=ja&tl=en Google translation to English]
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/topics_e.html JAXA IKAROS Topics]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 20:28, 9 July 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Attitude Control System Imaged In Action==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100628_ikaros_j.html (Press Release in Japanese) ([http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jaxa.jp%2Fpress%2F2010%2F06%2F20100628_ikaros_j.html&sl=ja&tl=en Google translation to English])
+
 
+
JAXA's [[IKAROS]] project released images taken of the sail with the attitude control actuators active. The actuators consist of thin-film LCD panels along the edge of the sail which change reflectivity. While reflective, the panels reflect more sunlight and generate more thrust at the edge of the sail. While non-reflective, they generate less thrust. By phasing which side of the spinning sail is more or less reflective, they should be able to turn the sail. The images show the LCD panels alternating between reflective and non-reflective.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 19:53, 28 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
==LightSail-1 Passes Critical Design Review==
+
 
+
http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/solar_sailing/20100625.html
+
 
+
<blockquote>
+
[[LightSail-1]], the Planetary Society's new ultra-light Cubesat-based solar sail spacecraft, has passed its Critical Design Review. At a two-day meeting in Pasadena, a team -- including JPL project veterans Bud Schurmeier, Glenn Cunningham, Viktor Kerzhanovich, and Aerospace Corporation's Dave Bearden -- reviewed the LightSail-1 project from soup to nuts and gave us the thumbs up to proceed with building the spacecraft's hardware and software.
+
</blockquote>
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:52, 28 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Images Taken of Fully Deployed IKAROS Solar Sail==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100616_ikaros_e.html
+
 
+
A small camera with an antenna was ejected from the [[IKAROS]] solar sail spacecraft and took images of the fully deployed sail on June 16, 2010.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 17:30, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Solar Sail Deployment Successful==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100611_ikaros_e.html
+
 
+
The [http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency] succeeded in deploying the [[IKAROS]] solar sail. Deployment began June 3rd 2010. On June 10th 2010, they confirmed that the sail was deployed. Congratulations to the IKAROS team!
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 17:26, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Deployment Completed (Correction: Deployment Continuing)==
+
 
+
The [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiafAPNG54YNmD6IP_urYi0wuaVHQ IKAROS Blog (Google translation to English)] reports that the promary deployment of [[IKAROS]] has been completed, with a deployment length of 5.3m and deployed size of 10m from end to end.
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/ IKAROS Blog (Japanese)]
+
* [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiafAPNG54YNmD6IP_urYi0wuaVHQ IKAROS Blog (Google translation to English)]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 16:08, 4 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
''Correction: IKAROS deployment is still underway. The sail is being deployed in stages, with the state of the sail and spacecraft verified along the way.''
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:32, 7 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==First Stage of IKAROS Sail Deployment Completed==
+
 
+
According to the [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiafAPNG54YNmD6IP_urYi0wuaVHQ IKAROS Blog], the sail deployment sequence has begun. There is a [http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/pdf/presskit_ikaros_e.pdf English press kit] available, which shows the deployment sequence on page 7. Tip mass separation was completed previously. It now appears that the 1st stage of sail deployment has been completed: release of four strips of folded sail material. Final deployment is planned for tomorrow, where the folded sail material is released into the final square shape.
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/ IKAROS Blog (Japanese)]
+
* [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiafAPNG54YNmD6IP_urYi0wuaVHQ IKAROS Blog (Google translation to English)]
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/pdf/presskit_ikaros_e.pdf IKAROS press kit (English)]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 17:46, 3 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Deployment Beginning==
+
 
+
http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002514/
+
 
+
The [http://www.planetary.org/blog/ Planetary Society Blog] reports that the cameras on the [[IKAROS]] spacecraft captured images of deployed tip masses on May 28, 2010, that will help hold the spinning sail flat once it is fully deployed. Deployment of the sail will occur soon.
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/ IKAROS Blog (Japanese)]
+
* [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiafAPNG54YNmD6IP_urYi0wuaVHQ IKAROS Blog (Google translation to English)]
+
* [http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/ikaros_channel/ IKAROS Channel (Japanese)]
+
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jspec.jaxa.jp%2Fikaros_channel%2F&sl=ja&tl=en IKAROS Channel (Google translation to English)]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 18:57, 2 June 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS Moves to Verification Experiment Stage==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100524_ikaros_e.html
+
 
+
May 24, 2010 (JST)
+
 
+
[http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)]
+
 
+
<blockquote>
+
The [http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)] completed the initial check of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "[[IKAROS]]," which was launched on May 21, 2010 (Japan Standard Time,) from the Tanegashima Space Center. We will take a few weeks to carry out the first verification experiments, namely deployment of the solar sail and solar power generation by thin film solar cells.
+
</blockquote>
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [[IKAROS]]
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/index_e.html JAXA IKAROS Mission Page]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:33, 25 May 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==The Operation Status of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator 'IKAROS'==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100522_ikaros_e.html
+
 
+
May 22, 2010 (JST)
+
 
+
[http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)]
+
 
+
<blockquote>
+
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) acquired the signal transmitted from the IKAROS at the Usuda Deep Space Station and confirmed its solar power generation and stable posture, and established communications. We will turn on onboard devices one by one.
+
</blockquote>
+
 
+
'''See Also'''
+
* [[IKAROS]]
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/index_e.html JAXA IKAROS Mission Page]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 13:22, 25 May 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==AKATSUKI and IKAROS ready for launch==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/index_e.html
+
 
+
JAXA is preparing to launch AKATSUKI (Venus Climate Orbiter) and [[IKAROS]] on May 17, 2010, at 21:44:14 UTC (May 18 6:44:14am Japan Standard Time, May 17 5:44:14pm Eastern Standard Time). A live broadcast will begin 30 minutes prior to launch.
+
 
+
===More coverage===
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/live/index_e.html Live Broadcast] - starting 5:15pm EST (May 18 6:15am JST, May 17 21:15 UTC)
+
* [http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/japan-venus-double-mission-100516.html Space.com: Japanese Solar Sail Headed for Venus and Beyond]
+
* [http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/status.html Spaceflight Now coverage]
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 05:17, 17 May 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
===Mission Updates===
+
* [http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/mission/results/f17countdown_en.html Countdown Report] - X-60 minute countdown began 4:44pm EST May 17. All systems go. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 21:06, 17 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/live/index_e.html Live coverage has begun] --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 21:17, 17 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* Launch postponed due to weather conditions. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 21:40, 17 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100518_h2af17_2_e.html AKATSUKI and IKAROS launch delayed to May 20 21:58 UTC (May 21 6:58am JST, May 20 5:58pm EST)] --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:51, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* 1 hr 24 minutes until the next launch attempt. 1 hour until live coverage begins. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 20:34, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/live/index_e.html Live broadcast] has started. 37 minutes to next launch attempt. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 21:20, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* 10 minutes and counting --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 21:48, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* Liftoff of [[IKAROS]] and Akatsuki! --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 21:59, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* Payload fairing has separated. 1st and 2nd stage have separated. 2nd stage engine has ignited. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:08, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* The second stage is in low Earth orbit (LEO) and has deployed 3 small satellites. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:18, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* The second stage burn to inject Akatsuki and IKAROS on a trajectory to Venus has finished. Akatsuki has separated from the launch vehicle. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:27, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* Jettison of the support structure for Akatsuki which covers IKAROS is coming up, followed by separation of IKAROS from the 2nd stage. This update from [http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/status.html Spaceflight Now]. --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:39, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
* [[IKAROS]] has separated from the launch vehicle. Congratulations to the IKAROS team on a successful launch! --[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:45, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==JAXA releases detailed video overview of the IKAROS mission==
+
 
+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_6HOqBkP2o
+
 
+
JAXA has released a detailed video describing all aspects of the [[IKAROS]] mission and spacecraft on [http://www.youtube.com YouTube].
+
The video is in Japanese, but should be easy to follow for non-Japanese speakers.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:50, 9 April 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==UK firm plans sails to clean up space==
+
 
+
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/mar/26/space-sail-orbit-debris
+
 
+
Researchers at the [http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/SSC Surrey Space Center] and [http://www.astrium.eads.net/ EADS Astrium] are working on a 5x5 meter solar sail nanosatellite called [[Cubesail]], planned for launch in 2011, to demonstrate removal of debris from Earth orbit.
+
 
+
===Other coverage===
+
* [http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/cubesail-spacecraft-uses-sail-orbital-brake-end-it-all Popular Science: When Its Mission Ends, CubeSail Satellite Commits Ritualistic Suicide]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 18:35, 26 March 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==AKATSUKI and IKAROS open to the media==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/topics_e.html
+
 
+
The media was invited to view the AKATSUKI and [[IKAROS]] spacecraft. IT Media has several pictures of the two spacecraft.
+
 
+
http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1003/12/news079.html
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 18:13, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
===Updates===
+
* [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2010/03/18/04.xml&headline=JAXA%20Reveals%20Akatsuki%20Venus%20Explorer Aviation Week: JAXA Reveals Akatsuki Venus Explorer]
+
* [http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/19/2233551.aspx MSNBC Cosmic Log: Solar sails take shape]
+
* [http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/100322shipment/ Spaceflight Now: Venus orbiter arrives at Japanese launch site]
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:26, 22 March 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Launch date of the Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI", carrying the IKAROS solar sail, set for May 18, 2010==
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/03/20100303_h2af17_e.html
+
 
+
The Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" (Planet-C), carrying the [[IKAROS]] solar power sail demonstrator, is scheduled to launch on an H-IIA launch vehicle on May 18, 2010, at 6:44:14 AM from Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center.
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 19:53, 5 March 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==The Second International Symposium on Solar Sailing (ISSS 2010) will be held July 20-22, 2010, at the New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York==
+
 
+
http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/isss2010/
+
 
+
"The symposium will focus on recent advances in solar sailing technologies and near-term solar sailing missions. The topics to be addressed include dynamics analysis and testing of solar sails, advanced materials and structural concepts of solar sails, space environmental effects and a solar spacecraft protection, solar spacecraft charging, enabling technologies, concepts, dynamics, navigation, control, modeling, mission applications, and programs."
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 22:39, 7 January 2010 (UTC)
+
 
+
==The Planetary Society: Solar Sailing Messages from Earth==
+
http://www.planetary.org/special/fromearth/sail
+
 
+
Submit your name and a message to fly on [[LightSail]] or [[IKAROS]]
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 17:02, 31 December 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==NASA Marshall Space Flight Center: NASA and Contractor Team Develop One Fast Satellite==
+
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2009/09-102.html
+
 
+
FASTSAT-HSV01 (Fast, Affordable Science and Technology Satellite) is the first of a series of small satellite platforms intended to carry multiple small instruments and experiments at low cost on a variety of launch vehicles. [[NanoSail-D]], previously attempted on a Falcon-1 test flight, is one of the initial experiments of this new satellite platform.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 16:55, 10 December 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Spaceflight Now: Two solar sailing trials readied for launch next year==
+
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0911/10solarsails/
+
 
+
Article about the [[IKAROS]] and [[LightSail]] 1 missions planned for launch in 2010.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:55, 12 November 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
ABC News picked this item up.
+
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Space/sailing-space-reality/story?id=9077536
+
 
+
==Planetary Society planning 3-mission solar sail project==
+
http://www.planetary.org/about/press/releases/2009/1109_Planetary_Society_to_Sail_Again_with.html
+
 
+
[http://www.planetary.org/ The Planetary Society] announced the project LightSail to fly three solar sails of increasing size and complexity over the next several years. An anonymous donor provided funding for the missions, which will begin with LightSail-1, a 3-meter square sail deployed from a 10x10x30cm Cubesat. This is similar to NASA's [[NanoSail-D]]. LightSail-2 will be larger and have increased sailing ability out of Earth orbit. LightSail-3 is intended to sail to the sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point to demonstrate solar wind monitoring for geomagnetic storm forecasting. The Planetary Society previously attempted to test fly a solar sail in the [[Cosmos 1]] mission.
+
 
+
Other coverage:
+
* [http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/solar_sailing/multimission_project.html The Planetary Society LightSail project page]
+
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/space/10solar.html New York Times: Setting Sail Into Space, Propelled by Sunshine]
+
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33812469/ns/technology_and_science-space/from/ET MSNBC.com: After letdown, solar-sail project rises again]
+
* [http://planetary.org/radio/show/00000366/ Planetary Radio: Celebrating Carl Sagan and a New Solar Sail With Ann Druyan]
+
* [http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002197/ The Planetary Society Blog: A million dollars says the Planetary Society can make a solar sail fly]
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:15, 10 November 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
More coverage:
+
* [http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/11/11/dream-of-solar-sailing-in-space-lives-on-in-new-project/ Christian Science Monitor: Dream of solar sailing in space lives on in new project]
+
* [http://agmetalminer.com/2009/11/12/aluminum-the-key-to-travel-between-the-stars/ Metal Miner: Aluminum the Key to Travel Between the Stars]
+
* [http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1510/1 The Space Review: Solar sailing gets its second wind]
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:59, 18 November 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
Even more coverage:
+
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/18/up_in_space_in_2010/page3.html The Register]
+
--[[User:Chris|Chris]] 11:55, 18 December 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==IKAROS papers presented at the 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science==
+
Several papers on the [[IKAROS]] solar sail mission and Japan's solar sail research in general were presented at the [http://www.senkyo.co.jp/ists2009/papers/html/index.html 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science] and made available. Links to these papers are available on the [[IKAROS]] page.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:11, 14 October 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Space Politics: A call for reviving NIAC==
+
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2009/08/07/a-call-for-reviving-niac/
+
 
+
[http://www.spacepolitics.com/ Space Politics] story on a report by the [http://www.nationalacademies.org/nrc/ National Research Council] on the effectiveness of the [[NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts]] ([[NIAC]]). The report recommends resinstatment of the program. NIAC, closed in 2007, funded revolutionary aeronautics and space concepts, including solar sails and related technologies.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 19:59, 2 October 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Crunch Gear: They now use solar technology to propel satellites==
+
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/09/11/they-now-use-solar-technology-to-propel-satellites/
+
 
+
Crunch Gear story on JAXA's [[IKAROS]] solar sail project. Also see JAXA's Japanese language summary of the project:
+
 
+
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/09/20090909_sac_ikaros_j.html
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 20:02, 11 September 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==The Times Online: 'Sailing' spacecraft could keep watch on Earth's polar regions==
+
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article6829671.ece
+
 
+
A Times Online story about polar observation and space weather applications of solar sails in artificial Lagrange orbits from a talk by Prof. [[Colin R. McInnes]] at the British Science Festival in Guildford.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:30, 11 September 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
Update: The Guardian also carried the story:
+
 
+
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/sep/10/solar-sail-space-exploration
+
 
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 19:28, 11 September 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==StarTalk Radio Show: What's Exploration Worth?==
+
[http://www.startalkradio.net/2009/08/16/what’s-exploration-worth StarTalk page.]
+
[[Louis Friedman]], director of the [http://planetary.org/ Planetary Society], joins Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye to discuss the value of space exploration. Solar sails are discussed at about the 46 minute mark.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 17:55, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Discover: The Elegant Way to Save Earth From Asteroid Destruction==
+
[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/09/04/the-elegant-way-to-save-the-earth-from-asteroid-destruction/ Discover blog.]
+
Discussion about using [[Gravity Tractor|gravity tractors]] to deflect asteroids, including Prof. Bong Wie's proposal to use solar sails as the tractors.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:35, 8 September 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==MIT Technology Review: the physics arXiv blog: Relativistic Navigation Needed for Solar Sails==
+
[http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24007/ MIT Technology Review blog page.]
+
Discussion about the challenges of navigating a solar sail on a high speed escape from the solar system due to relativistic effects.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:13, 8 September 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Space.com: First Solar Sail Might Soon Fly==
+
[http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/090812-tw-solar-sail-new-mission.html Space.com article.]
+
Story about the possible flight of NASA's spare [[NanoSail-D]] sail as a [http://www.planetary.org Planetary Society] project.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 14:31, 12 August 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Space.com: Ann Druyan: How to Sail Beyond the Moon Landings==
+
[http://www.space.com/news/090714-apollo11-40th-ann-druyan.html Space.com article.]
+
Ann Druyan discusses the future of space exploration, including solar sailing.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 19:36, 13 July 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Space.com: Promising New Space Engines are Opening the Solar System==
+
[http://www.space.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=LS_090519_Space-Engines ESA video on advanced propulsion:] "Electric ion engines; plasma drives, slingshot-style gravitational-assist maneuvers; ultra-light super-strong solar sails and other innovations are driving exploration forward beyond reliance on chemical rockets."
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:00, 27 May 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==The Atlantic: Across the Universe==
+
[http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200905/solar-sailing An article about The Planetary Society's efforts to fly another solar sail demonstration mission - Cosmos 2.] Their previous attempt, Cosmos 1, suffered a launch vehicle failure.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:00, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Solar Sail Update: New Opportunities==
+
[http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Solar_Sail_Update_New_Opportunities_999.html Update on The Planetary Society's solar sail activities.]
+
From [http://www.space-travel.com Space Travel].
+
Also see: [http://www.planetary.org The Planetary Society]
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:00, 3 April 2009 (UTC)
+
 
+
==Review of Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel==
+
[http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1223/1 Review of the book posted on The Space Review.]
+
SolarSailWiki article: [[Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel]]
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:00, 6 October 2008 (UTC)
+
 
+
==MESSENGER to flyby Mercury 2nd time October 6th==
+
[http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/telecon5.html MESSENGER Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab page.]
+
[[MESSENGER]] used solar pressure to correct the trajectory without using propellant.
+
The [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/multi05.html multimedia page] shows how solar sailing reduced the flyby target size.
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:00, 1 October 2008 (UTC)
+
 
+
==MESSENGER Sails on Sun's Fire for Second Flyby of Mercury==
+
[http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=102 Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab press release].
+
--[[User:Ben|Ben]] 12:00, 5 September 2008 (UTC)
+
 
+
<endFeed/>
+

Latest revision as of 14:04, 20 June 2012

See the News Archive for older news items. See Help:News for information on adding news items. Subscribe to feed.

Solar Sail News

LightSail has deployed
The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft successfully deployed its solar sail. The link includes instructions on how to view the spacecraft using the N2YO service. The deployment comes after the mission struggled with a software glitched caused a communications loss and battery problems. Also see the Planetary Society's press release. Congratulations, LightSail team! --Ben (talk) 17:47, 7 June 2015 (EDT)
(Sun, 07 Jun 2015 17:47:33 -0400)

LightSail Team Prepares for Sail Deployment

The LightSail team is preparing to run the deployment test of the solar sail on Wednesday June 3rd, 2015. Deployment will be executed manually, and is happening shortly after the team resumed communications with the LightSail spacecraft. There was an 8 day communications blackout due to a glitch in the software. --Ben (talk) 14:19, 1 June 2015 (EDT)
(Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:19:50 -0400)

StarTalk Cosmic Queries: LightSail with Bill Nye

Bill Nye answers questions about solar sails and LightSail on the April 19th, 2015, episode of StarTalk Radio. --Ben (talk) 14:04, 1 May 2015 (EDT)
(Fri, 01 May 2015 14:04:30 -0400)

LightSail Readiness Tests Prepare Team for Mission Operations

The Planetary Society's LightSail mission is undergoing tests to make sure the spacecraft is ready for operations when it launches. LightSail is scheduled to launch no sooner than May 20th 2015, on an Atlas V rocket with the Air Force's X-37B reusable spaceplane. --Ben (talk) 13:48, 25 April 2015 (EDT)
(Sat, 25 Apr 2015 13:48:04 -0400)

Project Dragonfly on Kickstarter

Project Dragonfly is a proposal to launch a swarm of small solar sails to the stars using lasers. They have launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign for the preliminary engineering design by international student teams. --Ben (talk)
(Sat, 25 Apr 2015 13:29:43 -0400)

Dreaming Up the Future of Interstellar Travel

Science Friday interviews Les Johnson about the future of interstellar travel. --Ben (talk) 13:02, 25 April 2015 (EDT)
(Sat, 25 Apr 2015 13:02:22 -0400)

NASA Nixes Sunjammer Mission, Cites Integration, Schedule Risk

Space News reports on the cancellation of NASA's solar sail demonstration mission (Sunjammer). Fair winds, LightSail. --Ben (talk) 20:33, 18 October 2014 (EDT)
(Sun, 19 Oct 2014 09:51:52 -0400)

LightSail updates July 7, 2014

The Planetary Society's LightSail solar sail cubesat mission has posted some recent updates, including a major announcement. LightSail is Ready for Launch! Join Us as the Countdown Begins. Live webcast and major announcement Wednesday July 9th, 2014 LightSail update: Of booms and pretty pictures, July 1, 2014 LightSail update: Three steps forward, one step back, June 18, 2014 --Ben (talk) 18:41, 7 July 2014 (EDT) Updates: LightSail is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in April of 2016. The Planetary Society blog post about the LightSail launch. LightSail-A may fly in May of 2015 in a LEO test before flying LightSail-B high enough to sail in April 2016. LightSail-B will fly with the Prox-1 nanosatellite mission which will image LightSail. --Ben (talk) 22:38, 9 July 2014 (EDT)
(Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:41:10 -0400)

Solar sail news roundup for October 3, 2013

It's been awhile since I posted on news in the world of solar sailing, so here's a list of stories that have come out in the past several months. Sunjammer The Sunjammer project successfully tested deployment of a sail quadrant at a L·Garde facility in Tustin, CA, on September 30th, 2013. This is one boom and one sail out of four that will make up the flight sail. Students from the Palm Middle School Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) program visited L'Garde and watched the deployment test. News Coverage Universe Today: Huge Solar Sail Portion Unfurls In Crucial Ground Test Satnews: L'Garde Inc., Space Services Holdings + NASA - Sunjamming For Power (Technology-Sail) NBC News, September 23, 2013: Solar sail ships seen as best bet now to get us to interstellar space. Discussion with physicist and novelist Dr. Gregory Benford on interstellar travel. Project Forward of Icarus Interstellar continues the study of beamed sail propulsion to other stars. Infographic on interstellar sailing IKAROS The IKAROS sailcraft is still alive and orbiting the sun with occasional radio beacon contacts with the ground. English translation of IKAROS blog posts: IKAROS Daily Report - August 29th, 2013 IKAROS Daily Report - August 22nd, 2013 The CubeSail project and UltraSail concept of UIUC and CU Aerospace were featured in NASA Tech Briefs on September 1st, 2013: UltraSail CubeSat Solar Sail Flight Experiment. The Third International Symposium on Solar Sailing was held on June 11-13th, 2013, at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. --Ben (talk) 14:30, 3 October 2013 (EDT)
(Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:30:24 -0400)

NASA to Launch World's Largest Solar Sail in 2014

NASA to Launch World's Largest Solar Sail in 2014 by Leonard David of Space.com goes in depth on the Sunjammer mission. --Ben (talk) 20:19, 25 February 2013 (EST)
(Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:19:27 -0500)