NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center · Sets

Solar Sails/ NanoSail-D

Sailing Among the Stars (NASA, Solar Sails, 08/17/10) [EXPLORED]

NASA's Nanosail-D mission evaluates how spacecraft might be able to literally sail through space without fuel.

NASA's nanosatellite NanoSail-D is still slowly descending and continues to provide valuable data for de-orbit mechanisms for future satellites.

As of Aug. 31, the 100-square-foot sail has been unfurled for over 215 days and the satellite has lowered its altitude by over 135km (84 miles). Its rate of descent depends upon both the solar activity and its current orbital attitude (sail pointing direction).

This research demonstration could lead to further advances of this alternative solar sail propulsion and the critical need for new de-orbit technologies. This ejection experiment also demonstrates a spacecraft’s ability, like the Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite, or FASTSAT, to eject a nano-satellite from a micro-satellite, while avoiding re-contact with the primary satellite.

Learn more:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/11- 010.html

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nan osaild.html

17 photos | 100,661 views

items are from between 17 Jul 2008 & 24 Aug 2011.

NanoSail-D in the Sky (NASA, Solar Sails, 08/24/11)

NanoSail-D Over Leiden, the Netherlands (NASA, Solar Sails, 06/03/11)

NanoSail-D Over Leiden, the Netherlands (NASA, Solar Sails, 05/31/11)

NanoSail-D Over the Netherlands (NASA, Solar Sails, 04/24/11)

NanoSail-D and the Moon Over Buenos Aires, Argentina (NASA, Solar Sails, 01/27/11)

NanoSail-D Over Seinäjoki, Finland (NASA, Solar Sails, 02/23/11)

NanoSail-D Over Rautalampi, Finland (NASA, Solar Sails, 01/30/11)

NanoSail-D Over Helsinki, Finland (NASA, Solar Sails, 01/30/11)1296412631

NanoSail-D Over Jyväskylä, Finland (NASA, Solar Sails, 01/30/11)

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