IKAROS takes images of its solar sail
Wed Jun 16, 2010 at 09:56 UTC
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully took images of the whole solar sail of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS" after its deployment of a separation camera on June 15. The IKAROS was launched on May 21, 2010 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The separation camera is in a cylindrical shape of about 6 cm both in diameter and height. It was detached from the satellite using a spring to take images and sent them to the satellite through radio waves.
The camera will never return to the satellite to be attached again. The images taken this time were distant ones covering from the upper stage to the lower stage.
We will measure and observe the power generation status of the thin film solar cells, accelerate the satellite by photon pressure, and verify the orbit control through that acceleration. Through these activities, we will ultimately aim at acquiring navigation technology through the solar sail.
| Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) | |
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