NEW YORK: An innovative spacecraft launched into orbit by citizen scientists has beamed back its first images.
The LightSail craft, developed by the Planetary Society, was launched aboard an Atlas rocket last month.
The craft makes use of solar sails for propulsion, with the LightSail being driven by solar pressure from the Sun.
It took several attempts to deploy the sails on this test flight, with the team then confirming the successul unfurling earlier this week.
Now, the Planetary Society has revealed the first image taken by the LightSail from space.
Visible in the image is the solar sail equipment as well as the Sun.
“The LightSail team is now downloading a second camera image from the opposite side of the spacecraft before it reenters Earth’s atmosphere. Because LightSail was directly between the sun and Earth at the time of image acquisition on June 8, it is believed the second photograph may include a view of Earth,” the society said.
The LightSail is set to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, with a second mission expected to operate in a higher orbit.
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