Editing Solar sail (section)

===Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3)===
[[File:Advanced Composite Solar Sail System testing.jpg|thumb|Advanced Composite Solar Sail System testing]]
The NASA Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3)<ref>{{cite web|title=Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) - NASA|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission/acs3/|access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref> is a technology demonstration of solar sail technology for future small spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Advanced Composite Solar Sail System|url=https://www.nasa.gov/smallspacecraft/what-is-acs3/|access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref> It was selected in 2019 by NASA's [[CubeSat#CubeSat_Launch_Initiative|CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI)]] to be launched as part of the [[Educational Launch of Nanosatellites|ELaNa]] program.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACS3|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/acs3.htm|access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref>

ACS3 consists of a 12U (unit)<ref name=cubesat-specs-rev13>1&nbsp;unit=10cm × 10cm × 11.35cm (3.94in × 3.94in × 4.47in) − {{Cite web|last=Mehrparvar|first=Arash |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5418c831e4b0fa4ecac1bacd/t/56e9b62337013b6c063a655a/1458157095454/cds_rev13_final2.pdf |title=CubeSat Design Specification| date = February 20, 2014 |access-date=27 October 2024 |website = The CubeSat Program, CalPoly SLO }}</ref> [[CubeSat]] small satellite (23 cm x 23 cm x 34 cm; 16 kg) that unfolds a quadratic {{convert|80|m2}} solar sail consisting of a [[polyethylene naphthalate]] film coated on one side with [[Aluminium|aluminum]] for reflectivity and on the other side with [[chromium]] to increase thermal emissivity. The sail is held by a novel unfolding system of four {{convert|7|m}} long [[Carbon-fiber reinforced polymer|carbon fiber reinforced polymer]] [[Boom (sailing)|booms]] that roll-up for storage. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wilkie |first=Keats |date=2021 |title=The NASA Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) Flight Demonstration: A Technology Pathfinder for Practical Smallsat Solar Sailing |url=https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2021/all2021/146/ |journal=Small Satellite Conference 2021}}</ref>

ACS3 was launched on 23&nbsp;April 2024 on the [[Rocket Lab Electron|Electron]] "[[List of Electron launches#2024|Beginning Of The Swarm]]" mission. The ACS3 successfully made contact with ground stations following deployment in early May.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exolaunch deploys NASA's ACS3 Satellite – SatNews |url=https://news.satnews.com/2024/05/02/exolaunch-deploys-nasas-acs3-satellite/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=news.satnews.com}}</ref> The solar sail was confirmed as successfully operational by mission operators on 29&nbsp;August 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-budget-pressures-create-opportunities-for-smallsats/ |title=NASA budget pressures create opportunities for smallsats |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=6 August 2024 |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=NASA Composite Booms Deploy, Mission Sets Sail in Space – Small Satellite Missions |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/smallsatellites/2024/08/29/nasa-composite-booms-deploy-mission-sets-sail-in-space/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=blogs.nasa.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> 

On 25&nbsp;October 2024 it was reported "... a bent support arm has made it (ACS3) lose direction and spin out of control in space."<ref name="orbitaltoday-ACS3-spin">{{cite web |author1=Space Enthusiast |title=NASA's Largest-Ever Solar Sail Mission Spins Out Of Control In Deep Space |url=https://orbitaltoday.com/2024/10/25/nasas-largest-ever-solar-sail-mission-spins-out-of-control-in-deep-space/ |website=Orbital Today |access-date=27 October 2024 |language=en |date=25 October 2024}}</ref>