LightSail-B successfully deployed sail

In the Thursday, January 28 successfully passed the first deployment of a solar sail under the start of the test in preparation LightSail-B to launch on the launch vehicle Falcon Heavy. Disclosure of the sails was the last stage in the first round of tests.

LightSail-B - is the second amateur satellite series LightSail . The first in the series, the satellite LightSail-A successfully took a flight May 20, 2015. But a week later "disappeared" because of a programming error .

After rebooting the machine random cosmic radiation Us recovered, but then again lost contact, and then Us recovered . The decision was made as soon as possible go to the main test and deploy the sail. Sail, thickness of only 4, 5 microns, successfully opened, was received a single camera picture sails satellite , a reflection of the sails was photographed by astronomers on the ground.
Movement sailboat against the stars

Because of the low orbit, where the strong influence of the atmosphere, the sail became very slow satellite and soon left the orbit satellite, fully implement the program of tests.


The second satellite to be launched in September 2016 on a Falcon Heavy together with the satellite Prox-1, which is designed to perform a series of experiments with a pair LightSail-B, in particular, to observe them from the side.

Both satellites will come together into a higher orbit (altitude 750 km), enough to avoid inhibition of the atmosphere. This orbit will be carried out separation of the two satellites, and then closer to the satellite Prox-1. Later it will be shown the possibility of movement on the "solar-powered».

Photo deployed sail on the table with the low friction surface:


More photos can be found по link . Previously there have been завершены testing new software. In the next round of testing all the systems will be tested together.



Source: geektimes.ru/post/270160/