Please select your home edition
Edition
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

The little space sailing vessel that just won't sink.

by Space.com/Sail-World Cruising on 29 Apr 2011
NASA’s solar sailing vessel in space - artist’s impression SW
They were sailing vessels that first explored the oceans of the world without falling off the edge, and it seems sailing vessels could very well lead the way into space. There's a small sailing vessel that has been sailing in low orbiting space since its launch in November 2010 and was meant to sink from orbit and burn up round about now. But the little sailing vessel NanoSail-D, just like a well-found sailing boat, just won't give up.

This means that skywatchers who have yet to spot NASA's prototype solar sail in orbit can take heart -- the little satellite will be zipping around Earth for a few more months yet, space agency officials say.

NASA's NanoSail-D satellite was originally expected to burn up in Earth's atmosphere 70 to 120 days after unfurling its 100-square-foot solar sail, which happened Jan. 20. But the satellite is descending more slowly than anticipated, meaning it should stay aloft at least until July, NASA officials announced this week.

'NanoSail-D has lowered its altitude above the Earth by approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) from its original altitude of 400 miles (640 km), and continues to descend,' said Dean Alhorn, NanoSail-D principal investigator at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, in a statement. [Photos: Spotting Spaceships and Satellites]

The mission team, Alhorn added, now 'predicts NanoSail-D will continue to descend and eventually re-enter Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate six months to one year from sail deployment.'

The change in NanoSail-D's deorbiting plans is in keeping with the little satellite's mission, which has been full of surprises so far.

NASA launched the NanoSail-D solar sail -- the core of which is about the size of a loaf of bread -- on Nov. 19, 2010, from Alaska. The satellite's primary mission was to demonstrate a compact solar sail system. The technology could lead to further development of solar sails for future missions, and could help satellites deorbit cheaply and efficiently, mission managers have said. [Video: Solar Sails Could Clean Up Space Junk]

At launch, NanoSail-D was one of six different scientific payloads aboard a larger satellite called FASTSAT, which is about the size of a washing machine.

On Dec. 6, NASA engineers triggered the ejection of NanoSail-D from FASTSAT. But it apparently didn't work. Then, on Jan. 19, officials announced that the little satellite had spontaneously popped out of its mothership.

Two days later came more good news: NanoSail-D had successfully deployed its solar sail.

'The NanoSail-D mission is NASA's first compact structure to deploy in low-Earth orbit and will be the first solar sail to deorbit,' said Joe Casas, FASTSAT project scientist at Marshall. 'The NanoSail-D mission continues to provide a wealth of data that will be useful in understanding how these type of deorbit devices react to the upper atmosphere.'

The NanoSail-D team has been monitoring the craft's orbital characteristics since sail deployment. They've found that the satellite is orbiting Earth in a flat spin rather than the expected random tumble.

The flat spin attitude causes NanoSail-D to encounter less atmospheric drag, keeping it aloft longer than anticipated, researchers said.

That's good news for skywatchers, who now have a longer window to spot the prototype satellite. As the little spacecraft continues to descend, sunlight glinting off its reflective, tent-size sail will become more and more visible.

Want to try to sight the world's first low orbiting sailing vessel?
The website Heavens-Above (http://heavens-above.com/) provides sighting predictions of NanoSail-D for any place on Earth over the next 10 days.

Another site is Real Time Satellite Tracking (http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544), which tracks NanoSail-D and a variety of other satellites on an ever-changing world map. It offers 5-day sighting predictions.

Finally, you can use an app (courtesy of SpaceWeather.com) to get the latest satellite predictions on your iPhone.

All good fun!

Sea Sure 2025X-Yachts X4.0Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Related Articles

Jeanneau announce new Sun Odyssey 415
Proud to launch the 9th generation of Sun Odyssey sailboats Jeanneau is proud to announce the launch of the 9th generation of Sun Odyssey sailboats, beginning with the Sun Odyssey 415!
Posted on 23 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 3
A Tough Test for Athletes and Equipment Fresh to strong south-westerly winds with stormy squalls pushed participants to their limits on Monday at Kieler Woche.
Posted on 23 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel day 3
Full power foiling shakes up leaderboard The third day of racing at the iQFOiL International Games in Kiel delivered exactly what the fleet had been waiting for: wind, power, and pure adrenaline.
Posted on 23 Jun
Tschüss 2 powers ahead in Transatlantic Race
Her nearest rival, some 300 miles astern, is Oliver Kobale's VO65 Sisi Six days into the West-East Transatlantic Race, Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschüss 2, co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has raced over 2,000 miles and is the clear leader for both Monohull Line Honours and the overall IRC win.
Posted on 23 Jun
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais preview
Eleven teams hoping the Portuguese venue lives up to its reputation Given that it is a long time since the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet raced in big winds and waves, a breezy final few training days before the start of next week's Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais would be universally welcomed by the 11 teams.
Posted on 23 Jun
Tickets on Sale for the 2025 Sydney Boat Show
Taking place from 14 to 17 August 2025 at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park Tickets for the 2025 Sydney Boat Show, which will take place from 14 to 17 August 2025 at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park are now on sale.
Posted on 23 Jun
SailGP opens tender process for two new teams
SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment. SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment for ownership of two new teams entering the global racing championship next season, alongside available stakes across existing national teams.
Posted on 23 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise.
Posted on 23 Jun
Inaugural Hobie Wave Grand Prix set for September
Championship level event to be held at Vincentia Sailing Club The NSW Hobie Cat Association, in conjunction with the Vincentia Sailing Club, are proud to release the Notice of Race and official open entries for the 2025 NSW Hobie Wave State Championships.
Posted on 23 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel day 2
Patience rewarded with full-throttle foiling After a long wait for wind yesterday, Day 2 at the iQFOiL International Games delivered exciting racing across all categories at the 2025 Kieler Woche.
Posted on 22 Jun