Good Luck, Nanosail-D!

For Immediate Release
November 18, 2010

Contact
Mat Kaplan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-626-793-5100

NASA's Nanosail-D is scheduled to launch tomorrow, and the Planetary Society wishes the mission every success. Developed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight and Ames Research Centers, Nanosail helped inspire the Planetary Society’s LightSail spacecraft, which is scheduled to be ready early in 2011 to carry out the first solar sail-propelled flight in Earth orbit.

"Nanosail has opened the way for a class of advanced spacecraft that someday may lead us to the stars. Its successful flight will advance solar sail technology and may lead to new applications for removing orbital debris through atmospheric drag," said Louis Friedman, Project Director of LightSail and co-founder of the Planetary Society.

Read more of Friedman's statement about the launch of Nanosail-D.

About The Planetary Society

The Planetary Society is the world's largest and most influential space interest organization. Founded in 1980 by astronomer Carl Sagan with Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is led today by CEO Jenn Vaughn and championed by Chief Ambassador Bill Nye. Members and donors fund programs in science and technology, public outreach, and advocacy. This work advances the exploration of space, the search for life beyond Earth, and the defense of our planet from dangerous asteroids and comets. Learn more at planetary.org.

###