Ikaros-ready for lift-off as the world's first solar sail demonstration in interplanetary space

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Kawaguchi, Jun'ichiro
Mimasu, Yuya
Mori, Osamu
Ryu-Funase
Yamamoto, Takayuki
Tsuda, Yuichi

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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will make the world's first solar power sail craft demonstrate for both its photon propulsion and thin film solar power generation during its interplanetary cruise. The spacecraft deploys and spans its membrane of 20 meters in diameter taking the advantage of the spin centrifugal force. The spacecraft weighs approximately 315kg, launched together with the agency's Venus Climate Orbiter, PLANET-C in 2010. This will be the first actual solar sail flying an interplanetary voyage.

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60th International Astronautical Congress 2009, IAC 2009

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