NASA Successfully Deploys Advanced Solar Sail in Space

The Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) marks a significant milestone in space propulsion by harnessing sunlight for navigation.

NASA's ACS3 solar sail was fully deployed on August 29, 2024, after launching in April.
The sail uses photon pressure from sunlight to propel the spacecraft, eliminating the need for traditional propellant.
The ACS3's sail spans 860 square feet, roughly half the size of a tennis court, and can be seen from Earth under certain conditions.
This technology could revolutionize future space missions, including weather monitoring and asteroid reconnaissance.
The mission honors the late Alan Rhodes, the lead systems engineer who contributed significantly to the project.