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NASA To Demonstrate Largest-Ever Solar Sail in Space

Posted by timothy on from the they've-pointed-her-bow-to-the-southern-star dept.

Zothecula writes "NASA's upcoming Technology Demonstration Missions are intended to 'transform its space communications, deep space navigation and in-space propulsion capabilities.' Three project proposals have been selected for these missions, which should be launching in 2015 and 2016. One of those projects will involve demonstrating a mission-capable solar sail. While NASA has recently tested a solar sail measuring 100 square feet (9.29 square meters), this one will be the largest ever flown, spanning a whopping 409 square feet, or 38 square meters."

2 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. NASA, I am disappoint by Reverand+Dave · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Is this something that Neil Armstrong would be disappointed about? I think this is some pretty cool news myself, even though I don't exactly believe it to be the best use of government funds ATM.

    --
    I got here through a series of tubes
  2. "spanning a whopping 409 square feet..." by Cornwallis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Whopping? That's only about four times larger. Certainly not "whopping".