Others describe the instrumentation, such as a lightweight coronograph and an X-ray spectrometer, and even structural components, such as the booms used to deploy the solar sails and the membranes ...

And we believe it will fundamentally advance the technology of spaceflight. Solar sailing is elegant not only in concept but also in its efficiency. Once in orbit, there’s no fuel needed.

More than four months after launching to space, a solar-sailing spacecraft has successfully spread its wings above our planet. NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) caught a ride to ...