NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2015-025L
LightSail-A is a 3-Unit CubeSat developed and operated by The Planetary Society to demonstrate sunlight, or rather solar pressure, as a means of spacecraft propulsion for potential future use in large sails for deep space propulsion. The LightSail-A mission will only function as a demonstration of the mechanical systems used in the deployment of the sail and validate the satellite bus for a longer test mission in a higher orbit in 2016 to actually demonstrate spacecraft acceleration through solar pressure.
Launch Date: 2015-05-20
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office