The satellite launched from New Zealand on April 24 by Rocket Lab’s rocket. ACS3 Advanced Composite Solar Sail System) mission has two goals – to test carbon fiber masts that can be used as building material for future space bases on the Moon and Mars; and test the new spacecraft propulsion system. This technology will not only be more sustainable, but also more cost-effective.
“The NASA team has repeatedly mentioned to us that ACS3 is extremely important to them because of the innovativeness and size of the sail. The data collected by the mission will open the door to space testing of even larger solar sails, which could eventually be used for long-distance journeys of spacecraft in the Solar System. Quoting NASA representatives, much larger missions await ACS3 data from orbit,” says Augustinas Stankevičius, technical manager of the radiation team of Kongsberg NanoAvionics.
When the satellite created by the company reached orbit, the antennas and solar collectors were first deployed and functional tests were performed. Finally, on August 28 within half an hour the sun was out and sailing. Its area is as much as 80 square meters. m, so the satellite is visible to the Earth’s inhabitants with the naked eye.
This solar sail is made of extremely flexible polymer and carbon fiber material. But fitting it into a satellite the size of a microwave oven was a real challenge.
“The process of assembling the satellite was particularly exceptional due to its high technical complexity and precision. It is a big challenge to fit such a number of technological solutions into a small cube. We assembled and tested the entire satellite platform without a solar sail in Lithuania. Only then did we send everything to NASA, where the agency’s engineers integrated the sails themselves. Therefore, we had to consider everything very carefully and make it in such a way that, when the NASA team started working on the satellite, there would be no problems”, says Tomas Vaitiekūnas, the technical manager of the company’s satellite production.
The company’s team also enjoys a smooth and extremely enriching collaboration with NASA.
“NASA was an amazing client – demanding, but also very supportive. Probably, if necessary, only NASA can at any time find a specialist in any very specific field who can advise the project team”, adds A. Stankevičius.
In the near future, the satellite will also be visible over Lithuania. Although the brightness of the satellite may vary due to the angle of reflection of the sun, the best chance of seeing it is away from the city, observing the sky in a western direction (closer to the setting Sun). It will be seen on September 6. 20:58 – 21:10, September 07 21:32 – 21:44, September 8 22:06 – 22:18 You can find all satellite flybys on the Heavens Above website (by selecting ACS3 Solar Sail) or on the NASA mobile app.
2024-09-06 16:51:28