Japan to Launch First Solar Powered Spacecraft

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has stated that it will launch the first spacecraft to be driven by a solar sail on May 19, 2010.

The spacecraft, known as the Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun, or IKAROS, will take off at 6:44 AM at the same time as AKATSUKI, Japan's Venus Climate Orbiter.

Scientists will use the launch to test how well the solar sail performs.

The sail is an extremely thin membrane, 20 meters from corner to corner, which contains thin solar cells that collect sunlight and convert it to electricity. This electricity will be used to propel IKAROS' ion-propulsion engine.

The Planetary Society (TPS) is developing a solar spacecraft known as LightSail-1, which will orbit the Earth.

JAXA and TPS have launched a campaign that will allow participants to send messages that will be taken aboard IKAROS and LightSail-1.