The first privately built Solar Sail spacecraft LightSail is now in orbit. Built by the Planetary Society the spacecraft was launched as a secondary payload on the Atlas V that launched earlier today.
The successful deployment of the CubeSat was confirmed by the Societies Jason Davies via Twitter.
Official #LightSail deployment time: 17:05:40.620, hh:mm:ss.sss (UTC). We were the last P-POD. Thanks for the ride, @ulalaunch Centaur!
— Jason Davis (@jasonrdavis) May 20, 2015
Once the antenna’s have deployed they expect contact later today, sometime over the next 2-4 weeks the spacecraft will deploy it’s Mylar Solar Sail which measures 32m², once deployed the light from the Sun will propel it. UPDATE – Confirmation that the antenna’s have deployed
Signal plus basic engineering data confirmed received from #LightSail. We have communication! pic.twitter.com/l6R76RGjBo
— Dr. Bruce Betts (@RandomSpaceFact) May 20, 2015
They are already working on the second test spacecraft will is scheduled to deploy from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in 2016, a Kickstarter is currently running to fund the second mission and is already 300% funded with at least 36 days left.
Below is an artist concept of the fully deployed Sail planned to fly in 2016.
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