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HopDavid
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Ikaros had solar panels embedded in the solar sail

The sail, shaped somewhat like a kite, also has solar cells embedded to generate electricity. It was not expected to make much power during this flight, but more to serve as a test bed for future ion propulsion-engines that not only use solar cells for electricity, but also are moved along by sails.

HopDavid
  • 15.9k
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  • 79