NanoSail-D
Encyclopedia
NanoSail-D was a small satellite
which was to have been used by NASA
's Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail
in space. It was a three-unit CubeSat
measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimetres (12 × 3.9 × 3.9 inches), with a mass of 4 kilograms (8.8 lb). The satellite was lost shortly after launch due to a problem with the rocket carrying it, however a replacement, NanoSail-D2
, was launched in 2010 to complete its mission.
NanoSail-D was to have been deployed on the third flight of the Falcon 1
rocket, which was launched from Omelek Island
at 03:34 UTC on 3 August 2008. One of two CubeSats aboard, along with PRESat
, it was a secondary payload to the Trailblazer
which was to have been operated by the Operationally Responsive Space Office
of the United States Department of Defense
. The launch was conducted by SpaceX
, and also carried a space burial
payload for Celestis
. Two minutes and forty seconds after launch, the spent first stage of the rocket was jettisoned, however unexpected residual thrust caused it to recontact the second stage, which resulted in the rocket being thrown off course. Unable to achieve orbit, the rocket and payloads fell into the Pacific Ocean
.
NanoSail-D was to have been operated in a low Earth orbit
with a perigee of 330 kilometres (205.1 mi), an apogee of 685 kilometres (425.6 mi) and 9 degrees of inclination. It would have been operational for around seven days, after which time it would have been expected to run out of power. Its solar sail had an area of 10 square metres (12 sq yd). The satellite was developed and tested in four months.
NanoSail-D2
was built as a ground spare for NanoSail-D. Following the launch failure of NanoSail-D in August 2008, NanoSail-D2 was launched as NanoSail-D on a Minotaur IV
rocket in November 2010, and deployed from the FASTSAT satellite.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
which was to have been used by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail
Solar sail
Solar sails are a form of spacecraft propulsion using the radiation pressure of light from a star or laser to push enormous ultra-thin mirrors to high speeds....
in space. It was a three-unit CubeSat
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components...
measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimetres (12 × 3.9 × 3.9 inches), with a mass of 4 kilograms (8.8 lb). The satellite was lost shortly after launch due to a problem with the rocket carrying it, however a replacement, NanoSail-D2
NanoSail-D2
NanoSail-D2 is a small satellite built by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters , with a mass of...
, was launched in 2010 to complete its mission.
NanoSail-D was to have been deployed on the third flight of the Falcon 1
Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
rocket, which was launched from Omelek Island
Omelek Island
Omelek Island is part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It is controlled by the United States military under a long-term lease and is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.-Geography:The Island is about in size...
at 03:34 UTC on 3 August 2008. One of two CubeSats aboard, along with PRESat
PREsat
The PharmaSat Risk Evaluation nanosatellite was about the size of a loaf of bread, weighed about 10 pounds and was constructed in just six months...
, it was a secondary payload to the Trailblazer
Trailblazer (satellite)
Trailblazer was a technology demonstration satellite, which was to have been operated by the United States Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency...
which was to have been operated by the Operationally Responsive Space Office
Operationally Responsive Space Office
The Operationally Responsive Space Office is a joint initiative of several agencies within the United States Department of Defense . The "stand up" of the office took place 2007-05-21 at Kirtland Air Force Base. The first director of the ORS Office is Col. Kevin McLaughlin, who is also commander...
of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The launch was conducted by SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
, and also carried a space burial
Space burial
Space burial is a burial procedure in which a small sample of the cremated ashes of the deceased are placed in a capsule the size of a tube of lipstick and are launched into space using a rocket...
payload for Celestis
Celestis
Celestis is a company that launches cremated human remains into space, a procedure known as a space burial. It is an affiliate company of Space Services Inc. The company purchases launches as a secondary payload on various rockets, and launches samples of many peoples' cremated remains on one launch...
. Two minutes and forty seconds after launch, the spent first stage of the rocket was jettisoned, however unexpected residual thrust caused it to recontact the second stage, which resulted in the rocket being thrown off course. Unable to achieve orbit, the rocket and payloads fell into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
NanoSail-D was to have been operated in a low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
with a perigee of 330 kilometres (205.1 mi), an apogee of 685 kilometres (425.6 mi) and 9 degrees of inclination. It would have been operational for around seven days, after which time it would have been expected to run out of power. Its solar sail had an area of 10 square metres (12 sq yd). The satellite was developed and tested in four months.
NanoSail-D2
NanoSail-D2
NanoSail-D2 is a small satellite built by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters , with a mass of...
was built as a ground spare for NanoSail-D. Following the launch failure of NanoSail-D in August 2008, NanoSail-D2 was launched as NanoSail-D on a Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle...
rocket in November 2010, and deployed from the FASTSAT satellite.