LightSail 2, the Planetary Society‘s solar sailing spacecraft, is no more. On November 17th, the crowdfunded solar sailing spacecraft burned in a blaze of glory as it re-entered earth’s atmosphere after traveling 8 million kilometers (5 million miles) powered only … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Lightsail 2
For several years, we have followed the Planetary Society‘s efforts to launch a solar sail that would be propelled by the light radiating from the Sun. In July 2019, the society’s LightSail 2 deployed a 32-square-meter solar sail, about the … Continue reading
For a number of years, we have followed the Planetary Society‘s efforts to launch a solar sail which would be propelled by light radiating from the sun. Yesterday, the society’s LightSail 2 deployed a 32-square-meter solar sail, about the size … Continue reading
A post not about the sea, but about sailing on the ocean of light from the sun. The idea for solar sailing dates back to 1610, when Johannes Kepler observed that comet tails point away from the sun as if … Continue reading