NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) has launched. This next-generation solar sail technology uses sunlight pressure for propulsion, eliminating the need for conventional rocket propellant. The ACS3 uses a new composite boom made from flexible polymer and carbon fiber materials that are stiffer and lighter than previous designs. The mission’s primary objective is to successfully demonstrate new boom deployment. Once deployed, the team also hopes to prove the sail’s performance. The solar sail can adjust its orbit by angling its sail. After evaluating the boom deployment, the mission will test a series of maneuvers to change the spacecraft’s orbit and gather data for potential future missions with even larger sails. The composite booms and solar sail deploy in orbit, they will measure about 860 square feet. This technology could advance future space travel and expand our understanding of our Sun and solar system.
Read more at: gizmodo.com