ATK and NASA tested the deployment and attitude control of an ultra-lightweight, high-performing solar sail propulsion system in a ground test, ATK said. The 400 square meter solar sail system was deployed in a vacuum chamber at NASA’s Glen Research Center.
Solar sail technology uses the sun’s energy instead of onboard propellant to provide thrust.
This is the first in a series of planned ground-tests for the technology that will be conducted through July.
