Japan unfolds Solar Space sailing Ikarus Satellite
Post date: Jun 11, 2010 11:04:22 AM
2010 Solarlife style arrived in Space
Japanese scientists are celebrating the successful deployment of their solar sail Ikaros.
The 200-sq-m (2,100-sq-ft) membrane is attached to a small disc-shaped spacecraft that was put in orbit last month by an H-IIA rocket.
Ikaros will demonstrate the principle of using sunlight as a simple and efficient means of propulsion.
The technique has long been touted as a way of moving spacecraft around the Solar System using no chemical fuels.
Image of Solar sail deployment is sent back to Earth
Solar cells embedded in sail produce power
On 10 June, Jaxa said, confirmation was received
that the sail had expanded successfully and was generating power through the thin-film solar cells embedded in the membrane
source: news.bbc.co.uk
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