NASA's ACS3 Solar Sail Prepares for Mile-High Test Above ISS

NASA's ACS3 Solar Sail System readies for a pioneering altitude test, aiming twice as high as the ISS.

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Scheduled for an April launch, this mission will mark the first use of composite booms in Earth orbit.

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A 25-minute deployment sequence will reveal the solar sail, set to stretch 30 feet on each side.

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Equipped with digital cameras, NASA aims to capture the sail’s deployment, assessing its dynamics live.

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Solar propulsion could allow spacecraft to ascend higher with each photon push, challenging traditional fuel limits.

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The durability of solar sail materials and spacecraft electronics will be crucial for mission success.

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