Blogs

As Deadlines Loom, LightSail Bends but Doesn't Break

Jason Davis • October 15, 2014 •

The Planetary Society's LightSail 1 spacecraft is close to completing a final series of tests that pave the way for a possible 2015 test flight. But as deadlines loom, a new problem has sent the team scrambling to make a quick repair.

More LightSail Day-in-the-Life Multimedia, and a Community Image Processing Challenge

Jason Davis • September 30, 2014 •

We have more multimedia from LightSail's day-in-the-life test, as well as a request for some community image processing help.

LightSail Sails through Day-in-the-Life Test

Jason Davis • September 24, 2014 •

The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft passed a major system test in which its solar sails were deployed for the first time in two years.

LightSail Radio Update: New Answers, New Questions

Jason Davis • September 03, 2014 •

Two weeks after radio anomalies scrubbed LightSail's day-in-the-life test, the team continues to close in on the source of the problem.

Radio Problems Scrub LightSail's Day-in-the-Life Test

Jason Davis • August 22, 2014 •

A pesky radio problem that has occasionally stymied LightSail has returned, scrubbing the mission's day-in-the-life test.

LightSail Prepares for Its Day-in-the-Life Test

Jason Davis • August 12, 2014

LightSail-A's radio system has been fixed, and the spacecraft is now preparing for its August 20 day-in-the-life test.

Watch a Recap of LightSail's Live LightSail Launch Announcement

Jason Davis • August 07, 2014

Watch a recap of The Planetary Society's live LightSail Launch Announcement, which took place July 9 at the KPCC Crawford Family Forum.

LightSail 1 Has a Blown Radio Amplifier. Now What?

Jason Davis • July 23, 2014 •

LightSail 1's blown radio amplifier doesn't affect the 2016 SpaceX Falcon Heavy mission, but it adds an unwelcome obstacle to the 2015 test mission's ever-shortening timetable.