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NASA Set To Launch Solar NanoSail Into Space

Posted by timothy on from the solar-powers-activate dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Earlier this year the Japanese space agency successfully deployed and used a solar sail to propel its spacecraft Ikaros, and now NASA announced plans this week for its own solar sail mission. This fall it will launch the NanoSail-D into orbit 400 miles up with a Minotaur IV rocket. Once deployed, it will orbit for 17 weeks, proving the technology and allowing astronomers to snap lots of photos."

1 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Re:"D" by c0lo · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "We chose the 'D' in the name, ..., but because it can stand for demonstrate, deploy, drag, and/or de-orbit."

    Dumb!

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