NASA's Solar Sail mission achieves two-way communications following April 23 launch

NASA's next-generation solar sail technology, Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, has successfully established two-way communications following its April 23 launch aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rocket.

The microwave oven-sized satellite is on its way to testing next-generation solar sail technology that leverages the power of sunlight to propel a spacecraft. The technologies will advance future space travel to expand our understanding of our Sun and solar system.

The spacecraft was successfully delivered to the Sun-synchronous orbit, about 600 miles above Earth. The mission team has confirmed that the CubeSat is operational and healthy.

The satellite will now undergo a one-to-two-month commissioning phase to prepare for the solar sail deployment and maneuvering test to demonstrate orbit raising and lowering. At this time, the sail remains within the body of the CubeSat.

Once ready, the spacecraft will unfurl its solar sail via four booms that span the diagonals of the square and unspool to reach 23 feet (about 7 meters) in length, NASA said on Tuesday.

Our Advanced Composite Solar Sail System is operational, healthy, and has now successfully achieved two-way communications!Next steps include a one- to two-month commissioning phase, after which the sail can begin to unfurl in space.Learn more: https://t.co/3bAWIOIfdC pic.twitter.com/E1C7pLRl5t

— NASA Ames (@NASAAmes) April 30, 2024