Friday, November 13th, 2009

Solar Sail Spacecraft

Diagram showing Lightsail-1 in its stowed (launch) configuration: prior to opening of solar panels and deployment of solar sails. Solar cells are shown in blue. Image courtesy The Planetary Society.

The Planetary Society plans to power a spacecraft using the pressure of sunlight reflecting off huge solar sails. The first craft in the project, dubbed 'LightSail,' is scheduled to take flight by the end of 2010. LightSail-1, a demonstration craft, will have four triangular sails made of 32 square meters of mylar, arranged in a kite-like diamond shape. Planned later efforts will go further using the technology. We'll talk with Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, about his group's plans.