Space Debris Research Lab

ACS3 (Advanced Composite Solar Sail System)

Ground-based optical observations of the orbital debris environment

ACS3 (Advanced Composite Solar Sail System) is a technology demonstration designed to characterize solar sail structures technologies for future small spacecraft to engage in deep space missions requiring long-duration, low-thrust propulsion. Source: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog

The solar sail is designed to fit inside a 12-unit (12U) CubeSat, which measures approximately 9×9×13inches (23×23×34 centimeters), or about the size of a small microwave oven. The unfurled solar sail is approximately 30 feet (about 9 meters) on a side.

The primary objective of the ACS3 technology demonstration is the successful deployment of the composite boom solar sail in low-Earth orbit. NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System fully deployed its solar sail in space on August 29 after a successful test of its sail-hoisting boom system.

ACS3 Observation Dates:

11.09.2024. 21.09.2024. 30.09.2024. 10.10.2024. 16.10.2024. 24.10.2024. 28.10.2024.

13.09.2024. 26.09.2024. 06.10.2024. 11.10.2024. 21.10.2024. 25.10.2024.

17.09.2024. 27.09.2024. 09.10.2024. 15.10.2024. 22.10.2024. 26.10.2024.

ACS3 October images

ACS3 November and December images

ACS3 January 2025

ResearchGate: Optical Observations of Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3)

ResearchGate: Optical Observations of Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) in October 2024

The main objective of these research papers is to present the first results of the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) observations in September and October 2024 from which can be seen the behavior of 12U CubeSat satellite with deployed solar sail.