A Japanese solar sail spacecraft called Ikaros (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun) is scheduled for launch from Tanegashima Space Center on 18th May 2010.
The 1.5 billion yen (US$16 million) spacecraft is the first to attempt solar sailing outside of Earth’s orbit. The spacecraft gets thrust from capturing the solar wind (a charged particle stream from the Sun), and electrical power from solar cells mounted on the sails.
Ikaros is launched as a small cylindrical spacecraft that spins up to 20 revolutions per minutes before deploying its solar sails which are 20m (65’ 7”) diagonally from tip to tip. The polyimide solar sail membrane is only 7.5 micron thick, about four times thinner than an average human hair. The silicon solar cells are 25 micron thick.
Ikaros is guided by changing the sail angle to the solar wind, similar to a sailing yacht does when it captures wind on the Earth’s oceans. Unlike its famous namesake, Icarus – the Greek who flew too close to the sun and fell from the heavens, Ikaros the satellite will hopefully have a successful mission.
Solar sailing spacecraft, if proven to be successful, are the ultimate in sustainability and economy since, after getting into orbit on the rocket, they use absolutely no fuel, unlike conventional spacecraft and rockets. Solar sailing spacecraft can travel at increasing velocity as they absorb the kinetic energy of the solar wind, without having to carry lots of fuel and rocket engines into orbit, allowing for more payload instruments to be carried. The downside is it may take a little longer to get where you want to go.
Other companies and space agencies are also interested in solar sailing spacecraft, such as The Planetary Society who are also planning on launching a Solar Sailing Spacecraft.
JAXA Space Exploration Center: http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/e/activity/ikaros.html
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