/sci/ - Science & Math

>>7273924
it is still very promising for very long term deep space missions, since no propellant is needed.

Japan's IKAROS is the most successful solar sail test so far. Still active, though in hibernation half the year.

>>7062128
quite a bit, mostly for very long duration missions either maneuvering within the inner solar system or escaping the solar system. Propellant load is one of the limiting factors for many missions and solar sails (or laser sails) can do away with propellant altogether.

I hope that Japan makes a follow-on to the successful IKAROS mission.

>>6681472
Another reason this won't happen: mass is your enemy if you are trying to accelerate. So no giant space battle ships and tankers, but instead increasingly miniaturized probes driven by ion drives and solar sails.

NASA's Dawn and Japan's IKAROS are better pictures of future long term spaceflight.

>>6570832
IKAROS also demonstrated thin-film solar cells and use of LCD-reflectors for attitude control. They also released miniature cameras to take pictures of the deployed sail.

>>6550929
Japan's IKAROS, the first successful solar sail. Great potential for long-term missions exploring the inner solar system, where light pressure allows you to trade propellant mass for mission mass.