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Lost NASA nanosatellite opened a solar sail. / January 26, 2011 /

Nanosatellite NASA’s NanoSail-D, launched into orbit on December 6, finally opened its solar sail. This was reported in the press release of the American space agency.

The unit, whose size is comparable to the size of a loaf of bread was thrown to another satellite FASTSAT. It was planned that the solar sail NanoSail-D area of about ten square meters will be opened on December 9, but in due time, the appropriate signal to Earth is not done. Specialists received the message on disclosure sails only on Jan. 20, 2011.

In the future satellites like NanoSail-D and run from the board of other devices could be in demand in the aerospace industry. Their main advantage is low weight and relatively low start up cost. In addition to the nano-satellite in the solar sail FASTSAT carrying five devices that operate normally.

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