Imagine a spacecraft that moves like a sailboat, powered not by wind, but by sunlight. That’s the concept behind a solar sail, a technology designed to harness the tiny amounts of pressure exerted by solar radiation to propel a spacecraft to incredible speeds. Without the need for heavy, expensive propellants, a solar sail-powered spacecraft could travel through space efficiently and sustainably.
ACS3 Mission: NASA’s Solar Sail Test
The solar sail concept was recently put to the test with NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) mission. On August 29, the microwave-oven-sized CubeSat deployed its 860-square-foot solar sail in low Earth orbit, after launching into space on April 23.
However, it remains unclear whether the sail is functioning properly. In the week after its deployment, NASA admitted that the small spacecraft had begun to “wobble” or “jiggle” in orbit. According to an agency spokesperson, this was expected, but the CubeSat’s future remains uncertain.
Observing the phenomenon: a suspicious movement?
According to a recent blog post by Delft University of Technology professor Marco Langbroek, who specializes in space situational awareness, ACS3 has been observed brightening and brightening, suggesting that it may be “wobbling or spinning.” This phenomenon, known as gyration, may have started after August 29, when the satellite appeared more stable.
Langbroek noted that there could be other explanations, but for now the observed behavior suggests some sort of slow rotation. The Swiss satellite tracking company S2A Systems also confirmed similar observations, noting a possible slow rotation of the spacecraft.
NASA remains confident
Despite these observations, NASA engineers do not appear to be concerned. According to Jasmine Hopkins, NASA public affairs specialist, ACS3’s current behavior is part of a planned sequence for the sail’s deployment.
Before the sail could be deployed, ACS3 encountered some technical difficulties. During an initial attempt, the sail stopped when onboard systems detected a higher-than-expected motor current, according to an Aug. 26 NASA update. However, communications, power, and attitude control remained normal as mission managers worked to understand and resolve the cause of the abort.
The Future of Solar Sails
While ACS3 is not the first solar sail to be deployed in Earth orbit, this mission is particularly important because NASA is testing an extremely lightweight composite material that makes up the sail’s folding arms. The goal is to reduce the spacecraft’s mass and increase its resistance to solar radiation, bringing low-cost solar sail-powered space missions into deep space a step closer.
As this technology evolves, the dream of exploring deep space with cheaper and more sustainable means could soon become a reality. What do you think? Will solar sails be the future of space missions?
