Less than two months after being unfurled in space, Japan’s IKAROS solar sail accomplished its ambitious aim – becoming the first spacecraft to travel in space, powered by the sun. Now it has demonstrated its fine steering ability.
Good news for the Little Japanese Solar Sail That Could, as the first images of the solar sail spread out in full deployment have been snapped. All is going according to plan, says the space agency, and “flying” looks possible.
The 20m (diagonally) solar sail Ikaros we mentioned last month has been successfully unfurled in space by its Japanese team. Now it’s a waiting game to see if it can be used for solar-powered travel as planned.
