NASA’s cutting-edge solar-sailing technology, ACS3, is scheduled to take off tonight, April 23, aboard a Rocket Lab Electron vehicle from New Zealand. This groundbreaking technology harnesses sunlight to propel probes through space efficiently, eliminating the need for traditional fuel.
The ACS3 mission aims to push the boundaries of solar sailing technology by testing new composite booms that will unfurl a solar sail measuring approximately 30 feet per side. This innovative approach will provide valuable flight data for designing future composite solar sail systems for a variety of space missions, including space weather early-warning satellites and asteroid reconnaissance missions.
Accompanying ACS3 on this mission is NEONSAT-1, an Earth-observation satellite with a mission to monitor natural disasters along the Korean coastline using a high-resolution camera and artificial intelligence technology. While NEONSAT-1 will deploy 323 miles above Earth, ACS3 will target an altitude of 620 miles.
Dubbed “Beginning of the Swarm,” this launch marks Rocket Lab’s fifth orbital launch of 2024 and its 47th overall. Rocket Lab is also making strides towards reusability by working on reflying a recovered booster on an upcoming mission.
For those eager to witness this historic launch, the livestream will begin 30 minutes before the 6 p.m. EDT launch window opens. Viewers can tune in on Space.com or Rocket Lab’s website to watch this exciting event unfold in real-time. Stay tuned for updates on the ACS3 and NEONSAT-1 missions as they journey towards their respective orbits in space.
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