Launching with the Artemis I uncrewed test flight, NASA’s shoebox-size Near-Earth Asteroid Scout will chase down what will become the smallest asteroid ever to be visited by a spacecraft. It will get there by unfurling a solar sail to harness solar radiation for propulsion, making this the agency’s first deep space mission of its kind.
Designed and developed by Applied, the solar sail is made from CP1 film with a reflective coating. Stainless steel alloy booms, another Applied product, deploy these mirror-like sails that then use reflected particles of light radiating from the sun to generate thrust.
More News Coverage:
- NASA space mission to demonstrate “very high velocity” solar-sail technology
- Artemis I Cubesat Probes Push Envelope For Deep-Space Exploration
- NeXolve’s solar sails to launch on Artemis 1
- Nexolve will launch solar sails with Artemis One
- NASA Solar Sail Mission to Chase Tiny Asteroid After Artemis I Launch
- Solar Cruiser: A Giant Sail Prepares for Space
Formerly NeXolve, now a business unit of Applied Aerospace & Defense.
