LightSailprojekt

The LightSail project is a series of spacecraft developed by The Planetary Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to space exploration. The primary goal of LightSail is to demonstrate that spacecraft can be propelled by sunlight using large, thin sails. These sails are made of a material called Mylar, which is coated with aluminum, and are designed to be deployed in space.

LightSail 1, the first mission, launched in 2015. It successfully demonstrated the deployment of the spacecraft's solar sails and confirmed that the sails could be propelled by photons from the Sun. This mission served as a crucial proof of concept.

LightSail 2, launched in 2019, was a more advanced mission. It carried the solar sails into orbit and successfully used them to alter its orbit, a key objective. By angling the sails relative to the Sun, LightSail 2 was able to gradually raise its perigee, the lowest point in its orbit. This showed that solar sailing could be used for practical orbital maneuvering.

The concept of solar sailing has been theorized for decades, but LightSail represents one of the most significant practical demonstrations of this technology. The project aims to pave the way for future missions that could utilize solar sails for various purposes, such as deep space exploration or maintaining satellite orbits without the need for propellant. The Planetary Society views solar sailing as a potentially cost-effective and sustainable method of space travel.