NASA’s Largest-Ever Solar Sail Mission Spins Out Of Control In Deep Space
25th Oct 2024
NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3), a test spacecraft designed to harness sunlight for propulsion, faces challenges as a bent support arm has made it lose direction and spin out of control in space. Engineers are actively working to resolve the issue, as this malfunction could delay critical tests needed to fulfil the mission’s main objectives.
NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System: What’s The Mission?
Launched in April 2024 from New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, this mission aims to demonstrate solar sail technology. This technology could change deep space travel by reducing the reliance on traditional fuel. It is a significant step forward in developing propulsion technology that uses sunlight to power spacecraft.
Solar Sail Technology
This concept uses the pressure from photons – light particles from the Sun – pushing against large, reflective sails, similar to how wind moves a sailboat. The ACS3 spacecraft, about the size of a microwave, could help make deep space missions much cheaper and simpler by removing the need for heavy fuel supplies.
What Is The Malfunction Of The Solar Sail?

After launch, the mission progressed smoothly until the spacecraft deployed its four reflective sails, creating a 30-foot-wide square structure. Composite booms hold these sails in place – lightweight yet sturdy beams that keep the sails stretched and steady. However, soon after the sails were unfurled, NASA engineers detected a slight bend in one of the booms, raising concerns about the spacecraft’s stability.
“The primary goal of the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System demonstration is to test boom deployment in space for future missions. But this bent boom has led to a major delay in getting the spacecraft’s systems fully operational again”, clarified NASA.
Why Did This Happen?
The bent boom probably happened during the first deployment of the sails when the booms were pulled tight against the spacecraft.
“Analysis indicates the bend may have partially straightened over the weeks since deployment, as the spacecraft was slowly tumbling”, said NASA.
Unfortunately, this malfunction has led to a loss of orientation control, prompting engineers to disable the attitude control system that keeps the spacecraft stable. As a result, ACS3 is spinning out of control in space, hindering efforts to return to normal operations and complete the planned manoeuvres to showcase the spacecraft’s propulsion capabilities.
NASA’s Efforts To Regain Control
NASA engineers are currently working to reposition the spacecraft by adjusting its orientation so that its sails face the Sun directly. This alignment is essential for the solar panels and sails to capture solar energy effectively. Once control is reestablished, one of the mission’s main goals will be to test sailing maneuvers that use sunlight as the only source of propulsion.
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