1 day / second
0.5 AU
IKAROS
Spacecraft
A pioneering solar sail spacecraft launched in 2010 that successfully demonstrated controlled solar-sailing propulsion and power generation using a large, ultra-thin polyimide membrane in interplanetary space.
Key Facts
organization | JAXA |
orbital regime | Inner System |
learn more | Wikipedia |
launched | 2010-05-20 |
defunct | 2015-05-20 |
launch mass | 310 kg |
Mission Timeline
Launched
May 20, 2010 at 21:58 UTC
Venus
Flyby
IKAROS completed a successful flyby of Venus on December 8, 2010, becoming the first spacecraft to demonstrate solar sail technology in interplanetary space while measuring Venus's magnetic field and plasma environment.
Defunct
May 20, 2015 at 12:00 UTC
After demonstrating the viability of solar sail technology during its 6-month primary mission and extended operations, IKAROS entered permanent hibernation while drifting in a heliocentric orbit.
