A group of European companies has secured government funds to test an inflatable drag sail in space by 2028, designed to swiftly deorbit its host satellite after mission completion.
  • saltesc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    4 days ago

    The system is designed to be initially 20 square centimeters in size but would inflate about 7,500 times larger to around 1.5 square meters, increasing atmospheric drag to accelerate deorbiting.

    The only thing more impressive than seeing that expand out would be watching them pack it down.

    • threelonmusketeersOPMEnglish
      2·
      18 hours ago

      Now I’m imagining bits of the sail bulging out of the rocket fairing like a hastily-packed sleeping bag at the end of a camping trip.