Space Missions and SciTech

Jason Davis is a digital editor for The Planetary Society. He writes about the world's space exploration missions and the Society's science and technology projects.

LightSail Deployment Update: Panels Wednesday, Sails Friday

Jason Davis • June 02, 2015 • 8

LightSail Mission Managers have decided to split the spacecraft’s sail deployment sequence into two segments, following an extended checkout period that wrapped up Tuesday.

First Look: Partial Camera Test Images from LightSail

Jason Davis • June 01, 2015 • 5

A jumbled JPG never looked so pretty. This afternoon, LightSail sent home pieces of two images taken by one of the spacecraft's onboard cameras.

LightSail Team Prepares for Sail Deployment

Jason Davis • May 30, 2015 • 8

LightSail is almost ready for its moment in the sun. Mission managers are preparing for a manual solar sail deployment this week.

Contact! LightSail Phones Home after 8-Day Silence

Jason Davis • May 30, 2015 • 12

The Planetary Society’s LightSail test spacecraft reported for duty this afternoon, heralding the end of an uneasy silence caused by a suspected software glitch.

For LightSail Test Mission, Waiting is the Hardest Part

Jason Davis • May 29, 2015 • 4

The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft is now entering its second week of silence.

Software Glitch Pauses LightSail Test Mission

Jason Davis • May 26, 2015 • 38

The Planetary Society’s LightSail test mission has been paused while engineers wait out a suspected software glitch that has silenced the solar sailing spacecraft.

LightSail Update: All Systems Nominal

Jason Davis • May 21, 2015 • 4

It's been 24 hours since The Planetary Society’s LightSail spacecraft was deposited into space yesterday afternoon. All systems continue to look healthy.

LightSail Sends First Data Back to Earth

Jason Davis • May 20, 2015 • 10

LightSail is sending home telemetry following a Wednesday commute to orbit aboard an Atlas V rocket.

Liftoff! LightSail Sails into Space aboard Atlas V Rocket

Jason Davis • May 20, 2015 • 4

The first of The Planetary Society’s two LightSail spacecraft is now in space following a late morning launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

In Pictures: LightSail’s Rocket Rolls to the Launch Pad

Jason Davis • May 19, 2015 • 3

Pictures of The Planetary Society’s LightSail spacecraft rollout to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 41.

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