NASA Set To Launch Solar NanoSail Into Space

An anonymous reader writes "Earlier this year the Japanese space agency successfully deployed and used a solar sail to propel its spacecraft Ikaros, and now NASA announced plans this week for its own solar sail mission. This fall it will launch the NanoSail-D into orbit 400 miles up with a Minotaur IV rocket. Once deployed, it will orbit for 17 weeks, proving the technology and allowing astronomers to snap lots of photos."

Re:Space tourists?

[ciderbrew]

They are making the brochure first.

Re:Proving technology that already works?

[Thanshin]

Proving new technology is just too risky.

Reinventing the wheel is now a long term objective.