{"id":6506,"date":"2024-09-23T21:51:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T13:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/nanoavionics-spacecraft-bus-enables-successful-solar-sail-deployment-in-nasas-acs3-mission\/"},"modified":"2024-09-23T21:51:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T13:51:56","slug":"nanoavionics-spacecraft-bus-enables-successful-solar-sail-deployment-in-nasas-acs3-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/nanoavionics-spacecraft-bus-enables-successful-solar-sail-deployment-in-nasas-acs3-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"NanoAvionics\u2019 Spacecraft Bus Enables Successful Solar Sail Deployment in NASA\u2019s ACS3 Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NanoAvionics\u2019<\/p>\n

The solar sail aboard NASA\u2018s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) satellite, using a spacecraft bus built by Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics), has successfully deployed. The deployment, a primary objective of the ACS3 mission, was confirmed by telemetry and images captured by the satellite\u2019s onboard cameras.<\/p>\n

Solar Sail Onboard Camera Image<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The ACS3 mission, led and operated by NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2018s Silicon Valley, is a groundbreaking technology demonstration designed to test an 860-square-foot (80-square-meter) solar sail and new deployable composite boom technologies for future space missions. This novel propulsion method harnesses the pressure of sunlight on large reflective polymer sheets, offering a potential new means of propelling small satellites on long-duration missions without the need for traditional propellants. The composite booms may also be used for building complex structures on the Moon or even Mars, such as trusses for communications towers, surface shelters like hangars or very long antennas for rovers.<\/p>\n

ACS3 over Klaipeda, Lithuania<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NanoAvionics contributed to this mission by designing and manufacturing the 12U nanosatellite bus, which serves as the test-bed for NASA\u2019s solar sail technology. The satellite was deployed into its designated orbit on April 24, 2024, by Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron launch vehicle from Mahia, New Zealand. With NanoAvionics support, NASA integrated the solar sail and other mission components into the satellite bus and has been managing the satellite\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n

12U Nanosatellite in NanoAvionics Cleanroom<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Atle Gjerl\u00f8w W\u00f8llo, CEO of NanoAvionics<\/strong>, said: \u201cWe are immensely proud to have provided enabling technology to NASA in this pioneering technology demonstration. The entire NanoAvionics<\/strong> team is honored to have contributed to a mission with such importance and potential to improve humanity\u2019s advancements in interplanetary exploration and settlement in space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Data gathered from the solar sail deployment will support the advancement of this in-space propulsion technology. The following mission steps will re-engage the spacecraft\u2019s attitude control system that was put in idle just before the deployment of the booms as part of the planned deployment sequence. NASA\u2019s mission operators will test the maneuvering capabilities of the sail in space. Raising and lowering the orbit of the ACS3 spacecraft will provide valuable information that may help guide future concepts of operations and designs for solar sail-equipped science and exploration missions.<\/p>\n

Mariano Perez, Quality Assurance Engineer at NASA AMES<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NanoAvionics remains committed to providing reliable and innovative small satellite platforms for NASA\u2019s and other federal agencies\u2019 diverse mission needs, helping push the boundaries of space exploration. NASA\u2019s Small Spacecraft Technology program office, based at NASA Ames and led by the agency\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate, funds and manages the mission.<\/p>\n