Solar Sail Completes First Crucial Tests

by Kelly Young NewScientist.com, 10 May 2005 A lightweight solar sail that could one day allow spacecraft to be propelled by the power of the Sun has passed its first crucial test. The sail, made by NASA and Alliant Techsystems was successfully deployed and its orientation controlled in the world’s largest vacuum chamber -- which mimics the space environment -- it was announced on Tuesday. Read the article