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NanoSail D
NanoSail D (launch and deployed) [NASA]
NanoSail D is a cubesat-based solar sail demonstrator. The missiongoals are:
- Establish ARC-MSFC collaborative relationship for future small satellite initiatives
- Deploy a 10 m² solar sail leveraging work by MSFC approved under the SMD In-Space Propulsion Program
- Demo Orbital Debris Mitigation technology – drag sail
- Ground Imaging to reduce spacecraft instrumentation
- Add to flight experience – ARC Bus "light" experience
Two units of the NanoSail D satellites have been built. The first satellite failed toreach orbit due to a malfunction of theFalcon-1 launch vehicle first stage.
The second satellite was deployed fromFASTSAT-HSV 01 on 06.12.2010 after launch on aMinotaur-4 HAPS rocket from Kodiak on 20.11.2010. The Nanosail D was to be ejected on 06.12.2010, but it failed to leave its deployer. The satellite was then spontaneously ejected on 19.01.2011 and successfully deployed the sail three days later.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | NASA Ames Research Center |
| Contractors: | NASA Ames Research Center |
| Equipment: | Solar sail |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (3U) |
| Propulsion: | None |
| Power: | Batteries |
| Lifetime: | 7 days |
| Mass: | 4 kg |
| Orbit: | 330 km × 685 km, 9° (#D1, planned); 641 km × 652 km, 72° (#D2) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NanoSail D | 2008-F01 | 03.08.2008 | Om | F | Falcon-1 | withTrailblazer,PreSat,Celestis 07 |
| NanoSail D2 | 2010-062L | 20.11.2010 | Kd LP-1 | Minotaur-4 HAPS | withSTPSat 2,FASTRAC 1,FASTRAC 2,FalconSat 5,FASTSat-HSV 01,RAX 1,O/OREOS,Ballast A,Ballast B |
Launch Sites:
- Kd = Kodiak Launch Complex, Kodiak Island, Narrow Cape, Alaska, USA
- Om = Omelek Island, Reagan Test Site (formerly Kwajalein Missile Range), Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
