Japan To Launch Solar Sail Spacecraft "Ikaros"

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday April 28, 2010 @05:07AM from the so-that's-what-sailor-moon-does dept.

separsons writes "On May 18th, Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch Ikaros, a fuel-free spacecraft that relies completely on solar power. The spacecraft's 46-foot-wide sails are thinner than a human hair and lined with thin-film solar panels. After a rocket brings the craft to space, mission controllers on the ground will steer Ikaros by adjusting the sails' angles, ensuring optimal radiation is hitting the solar cells. If the mission proves successful, the $16M spacecraft will be the first solar sail-powered craft to enter deep space."

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Icarus? by Kelson · 2010-04-28 05:07 · Score: 5, Funny

It's always seemed like a bad idea to name anything after a figure whose claim to fame was that he ignored warnings against exceeding the tolerances of his vehicle, causing it to break up and kill him.
1. Re:Icarus? by Gerafix · 2010-04-28 05:09 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  To be fair the Japanese don't have to do metric/imperial conversions so they should be fine.