Launched successfully on June 25, the CubeSat LightSail 2 has just confirmed its good health in orbit by sending for its first signals from space.
Within a few days, the team in charge of this project should deploy the famous solar sail, making LightSail 2 the first vehicle to be propelled only by the radiation pressure exerted by solar radiation.
Connection established
Successfully launched on June 25 aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, at the same time achieving the " most difficult launch " in the history of the company according to Elon Musk," the photon engine " LightSail 2 has, the Tuesday, July 2, correctly left his carrier vehicle, Prox-1.
A few hours later, the Planetary Society team confirmed the good health of the machine by collecting its data thanks to its radio antenna that could be deployed. Finally, yesterday LightSail 2 sent its first signal from space as it flew over the Mission Control Center, located at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly for short) from San Luis Obispo. Other signals were also sent to Purdue University and Georgia Tech.
Bruce Betts, Program Manager, said, " We are all very happy. After years of preparation, we fly an operational spaceship! "
Still a little patience before the deployment of the sail
An essential step before the deployment of its solar sail, this communication established with LightSail 2 is far from being a mere formality. The Planetary Society has announced in a press release that it has begun the necessary verifications and a series of tests to ensure that LightSail is beautiful and ready to deploy its solar sail of 32 m2. Numbering 73, these tests have already been completed to the third and the date of deployment of the sail should be unveiled in the coming days.
This machine weighs just 5 kg and whose purpose is to demonstrate the viability of solar navigation as a propulsion system will first deploy its solar panels before attempting to propel itself using its canvas mylar.
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