NanoSail-D2
Encyclopedia
NanoSail-D2 is a small satellite
built by NASA
's Marshall Space Flight Center
and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail
in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat
measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters (12 × 3.9 × 3.9 inches), with a mass of 4 kilograms (8.8 lb). Its solar sail has an area of 10 square metres (12 sq yd), and was deployed in around five seconds.
It was planned to be deployed from the FASTSAT satellite around 03 December 2010, two weeks after launch. The satellite did not eject at that time, but on January 17, 2011, it ejected on its own and deployed its sail three days later on the 20th. The beacon signal began transmitting after ejection and was first received on the afternoon of the 19th of January.
satellite, which was launched aboard a Falcon 1
in 2008, and was subsequently lost when the rocket malfunctioned during stage separation. Over the next two years improvements were made to the spare, and the satellite was incorporated into the FASTSAT mission.
NanoSail-D2 was launched aboard a Minotaur IV
/HAPS rocket, inside the FASTSAT satellite. FASTSAT was a secondary payload on the launch, with the primary payload being STPSat-2. The launch also carried RAX
, O/OREOS
, FalconSat-5, and the two FASTRAC
satellites; Sara-Lily and Emma. The Minotaur was launched from Launch Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex
at 01:25 UTC on 20 November 2010. Orbital Sciences Corporation
conducted the launch under a contract with the United States Air Force
.
FASTSAT was deployed into a low Earth orbit
with a perigee of 650 kilometres (403.9 mi), an apogee of 650 kilometres (403.9 mi) and 72 degrees of inclination. NanoSail-D2 was expected to separate from FASTSAT on December 6, but although the bay door opened ejection did not occur. Successful ejection was confirmed on 19 January 2011; it is unclear what caused the ejection mechanism to fail and then ultimately release at this later date. NASA requested amateur radio operators listen for the beacon signal from NanoSail-D. They did and picked up the 1 second beacon transmissions which were transmitted every 10 seconds. While battery power was soon exhausted, as predicted by the principal investigator, Dean Alhorn, the spacecraft will sail on in low-Earth orbit for 70 to 120 days, depending on atmospheric conditions, before it burns up. It will be easiest to view after the atmosphere stabilizes its tumbling.
To generate publicity and to encourage observations while the sail is still in orbit, NASA and Spaceweather.com have announced a photography competition with a grand prize of $500 to capture images of the solar sail in orbit.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
built by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail
Solar sail
Solar sails are a form of spacecraft propulsion using the radiation pressure of light from a star or laser to push enormous ultra-thin mirrors to high speeds....
in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components...
measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters (12 × 3.9 × 3.9 inches), with a mass of 4 kilograms (8.8 lb). Its solar sail has an area of 10 square metres (12 sq yd), and was deployed in around five seconds.
It was planned to be deployed from the FASTSAT satellite around 03 December 2010, two weeks after launch. The satellite did not eject at that time, but on January 17, 2011, it ejected on its own and deployed its sail three days later on the 20th. The beacon signal began transmitting after ejection and was first received on the afternoon of the 19th of January.
Chronology
NanoSail-D2 was originally built as a ground spare for the NanoSail-DNanoSail-D
NanoSail-D was a small satellite which was to have been used by NASA's Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It was a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimetres , with a mass of...
satellite, which was launched aboard a Falcon 1
Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
in 2008, and was subsequently lost when the rocket malfunctioned during stage separation. Over the next two years improvements were made to the spare, and the satellite was incorporated into the FASTSAT mission.
NanoSail-D2 was launched aboard a Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle...
/HAPS rocket, inside the FASTSAT satellite. FASTSAT was a secondary payload on the launch, with the primary payload being STPSat-2. The launch also carried RAX
RAX
Radio Aurora Explorer is the first National Science Foundation sponsored CubeSat mission . The RAX mission is a joint effort between in Menlo Park, California and the in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The chief scientist, Dr. Hasan Bahcivan, led his team at SRI to develop the payload while the chief...
, O/OREOS
O/OREOS
The O/OREOS nanosatellite is a automated laboratory approximately the size of a loaf of bread that contains two separate experiments on board...
, FalconSat-5, and the two FASTRAC
Fastrac
Fastrac may refer to* JCB Fastrac, tractor by J. C. Bamford* Fastrac rocket engine, NASA's project* Fastrac, VTLS software* Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude, and Crosslink, A University of Texas satellite...
satellites; Sara-Lily and Emma. The Minotaur was launched from Launch Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex
Kodiak Launch Complex
The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehiclesowned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska....
at 01:25 UTC on 20 November 2010. Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
conducted the launch under a contract with the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
FASTSAT was deployed into a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
with a perigee of 650 kilometres (403.9 mi), an apogee of 650 kilometres (403.9 mi) and 72 degrees of inclination. NanoSail-D2 was expected to separate from FASTSAT on December 6, but although the bay door opened ejection did not occur. Successful ejection was confirmed on 19 January 2011; it is unclear what caused the ejection mechanism to fail and then ultimately release at this later date. NASA requested amateur radio operators listen for the beacon signal from NanoSail-D. They did and picked up the 1 second beacon transmissions which were transmitted every 10 seconds. While battery power was soon exhausted, as predicted by the principal investigator, Dean Alhorn, the spacecraft will sail on in low-Earth orbit for 70 to 120 days, depending on atmospheric conditions, before it burns up. It will be easiest to view after the atmosphere stabilizes its tumbling.
To generate publicity and to encourage observations while the sail is still in orbit, NASA and Spaceweather.com have announced a photography competition with a grand prize of $500 to capture images of the solar sail in orbit.