JAXA’s IKAROS Undergoes Initial Operations Checks

JAXA MISSION UPDATE
May 24, 2010

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) completed the initial operation check of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator “IKAROS,” which was launched on May 21, 2010 (Japan Standard Time,) from the Tanegashima Space Center.

We will take a few weeks to carry out the first verification experiments, namely deployment of the solar sail and solar power generation by thin film solar cells.