• The Ikaros solar sail successfully deployed in space by Japanese scientists

  • Ikaros-solar-sail.jpg
    The Ikaros has left ground and has set off on its journey to the heavens above. And this time, it wasn’t the Greeks sending up a mythological creature, it’s the Japanese with a solar-powered idea that was eagerly waited upon to be executed. The Ikaros solar-sail has been successfully deployed by Japanese scientists, with a 200-sq-m (2,100-sq-ft) membrane is attached to a small disc-shaped spacecraft. This was launched into space using an H-IIA rocket last month. Unlike its peers, this space-craft can turn its head away from chemical fuels and use alternative energy instead.


    The acceleration produced by the Ikaros and its system’s steering are being closely observed. On 10th June, the sail had expanded successfully, with thin-film solar cells embedded in the membrane generating power. The deployment took place 7.7 million km from Earth, far away from home. Could this be the future of space activities? We wait and watch!
    Ikaros-solar-sail2.jpg
    [Jalopnik And BBC]

    Posted in Topics:Gadgets and Tech, Tags: , on June 15, 2010