NASA Releases First Image of Solar Sail Deployed in Space

In late April 2024, Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launched into orbit the ACS3 experimental satellite, equipped with a next-generation solar sail.

The published image may look a little confusing. This is because the spacecraft rotates slowly as it moves through orbit. Once enough telemetry data is collected on the sail and the composite guides that hold it in place, NASA will stabilize the spacecraft. It is likely that clearer images will be taken after that. The spacecraft has four wide-angle cameras, one of which captured the image published by NASA. The bottom of the image shows “reflective square sails supported by composite beams,” while the top shows the back of one of the solar panels. The sail elements appear slightly distorted due to the wide-angle field of view of the camera.

NASA officials remained tight-lipped until August 29, when the agency confirmed that the sail had been successfully deployed in space. On the fifth, the agency released its first image.