Japan Space Yacht Ready For Flight
May 18th, 2010 - 7:12 pm ICT by GDBy Ranjan Bhaduri
Japan, May 18, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Japan is all set to turn science fiction into reality with its space craft Ikaros that is ready to take its flight into space. The space yacht as Japan calls it will be different from the conventional spacecrafts owing to the fact that it will be powered by solar energy. It is prepared to take the flight to Venus and maybe beyond it. The launch of the yacht was scheduled to take place today but due to inclement weather, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency opted to delay it to at least Friday. The yacht has a 20 meter sail that will help it fly through space and it will be aided by solar particles.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has said that the space yacht has a special flexible membrane sail coated with thin-film solar panels. It will generate a hybrid of pressure and electricity which will help the yacht in maneuvering. The Jaxa website says that it is going to be the first solar-powered sail craft of the world powered by thin-film solar energy generation. The yacht according to Jaxa scientists will follow its desired path across the space after its launch. The journey to Venus will take approximately six months.
Ikaros is expected to cross past Venus and still carry on its voyage. If everything goes as planned the space yacht will sail across the space for three years after reaching near Venus. However, it may not be possible to keep track over it after the first year. If it turns out to be successful, Japan will send another craft named Akatsuki by 2020.
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Tags: aerospace, electricity, flexible membrane, flight into space, fly, hybrid, inclement weather, japan, journey, launch, ranjan, science fiction, scientists, six months, solar energy generation, solar particles, space craft, spacecrafts, thin film solar panels, yacht