• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Engineering Designer Magazine

Engineering Designer

  • Home
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Sustainability
  • Materials
  • Medical
  • Construction
  • Advertise
  • iED
You are here: Home / Materials / NASA chooses launch partner for innovative solar sail system

NASA chooses launch partner for innovative solar sail system

October 15, 2021 by Geordie Torr

NASA has selected California-based space-systems company Rocket Lab to launch its Advanced Composite Solar Sail System, or ACS3, into orbit. The launch, which will take place aboard a Rocket Lab Electron vehicle, is scheduled to take place towards the middle of 2022.

Advertisement

The ACS3 technology demonstration is an innovative satellite designed to test new deployable structures and materials technologies for solar sail propulsion systems, which employ the pressure of sunlight for propulsion, eliminating the need for conventional rocket propellant. Data collected from the ACS3 demonstration will guide the design of future larger-scale composite solar sail systems, which could eventually be used for space-weather early-warning satellites, near-Earth asteroid reconnaissance missions, communications relays for crewed exploration missions or even deep-space exploration.

ACS3 will launch as part of a rideshare mission, scheduled for lift-off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s North Island in mid-2022. The Electron launch vehicle’s Kick Stage feature, which enables it to deploy individual satellites in unique orbits, even when flying as part of a rideshare, was a key factor in Rocket Lab’s selection as the launch provider. The ACS3 needs to be deployed in a higher orbit than the other payloads that will be launching on the same mission, so after deploying the first payloads, the Kick Stage will perform another burn with its 3D-printed Curie engine to raise the orbit and deploy ACS3.

Advertisement

‘We are thrilled to be NASA’s launch partner for this innovative mission,’ said Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck. ‘It seems fitting to launch NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System on Electron, the world’s first full-carbon-composite orbital launch vehicle. We’re excited to see composites used yet again to unlock new capabilities in space.’

Filed Under: Materials, Technology

Advertisement

Primary Sidebar

SUBSCRIBE And get a FREE Magazine

Want a FREE magazine each and every month jam-packed with the latest engineering and design news, views and features?

ED Update Magazine

Simply let us know where to send it by entering your name and email below. Immediate access.

Trending

Tiny robots inspiored by click beetles

Collaborators create innovative geotechnical sensor for road monitoring

Scientists develop precision arm for miniature robots

Engineering start-up secures investment for technology to release seized nuts and bolts

British company to design green gas-to-power barges for Greek islands

New micro-battery could be used to power tiny robots

Made in Britain and the British Design Fund team up for 2023

New corrosion sensor offers several benefits

Caltech launches space solar power project

Scientists create novel steel-bronze alloys

Footer

About Engineering Designer

Engineering Designer is the quarterly journal of the Insitution of Engineering Designers.

It is produced by the IED for our Members and for those who have an interest in engineering and product design, as well as CAD users.

Click here to learn more about the IED.

Other Pages

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • Institution of Engineering Designers

Search

Tags

ied

Copyright © 2023 · Site by Syon Media