Successful Deployment Of Japanese Solar Sail In Space

Technology news and updates blog article

Successful Deployment Of Japanese Solar Sail In Space

14th June 2010

The celebration of successful deployment of the solar cell called Ikaros is being enjoyed by the Japanese scientists. In the last month, H-IIA put a spacecraft, which was just like a small disc, in orbit. With this spacecraft a membrane of 200-sq-m is also attached with. Sunlight is going to be used as a sample and efficient means of propulsion, in the demonstration, which will be given by Ikraos.

The technique of moving spacecrafts around the solar system, without using fuel has been touted since years. The team, which is working on this mission, is going to see if the Ikaros is able to produce a measurable and required acceleration or not. And the team will also see that how well this is going to steer the craft throughout the space.

A statement is given by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), in which it has said that the scientists and engineers of JAXA had deployed the sail. And this solar sail was deployed on 3rd June. A confirmation was received by JAXA on the day of 10th June, in which it came to know the success of this sail. The statement also added that some of the thin-film solar cells, which are embedded on the sail, have already started to generate power.