LightSail satellite communicates again after solar panel problem – update 2

Scientists can communicate with the LightSail satellite again after it failed to give any sign of life for the second time. This time there were problems after deploying the solar panels, which are supposed to provide the energy.

The Planetary Society, responsible for the launch, announced on its website that there was no longer any communication with LightSail. The problems arose shortly after the satellite deployed its solar panels. Wednesday night was the last sign of life, after which no more communication signals were sent back. However, on Saturday evening, the team received another sign of life from LightSail, allowing the testing process to continue.

The communication problem was probably mainly related to the batteries. They did not receive any power from the solar panels after they were unfolded. The unfolding process probably caused problems by having the batteries switch to a kind of safe mode. However, the exact cause is not yet entirely clear: research is still being done into the battery perils.

Due to the problems, the solar sail, with a diameter of 32 meters, could not be unfolded. This sail must be used for propulsion. It captures photons from the sun: they put minimal pressure on the sail, causing movement. LightSail thus works in the same way as a sailboat. The Planetary Society wants to unfold the sail as soon as possible after the batteries are at a stable level. This may still happen on Sunday.

Update 12:05 pm: LightSail is communicating again, and the article has been adjusted accordingly.

Update 11:34 PM: LightSail has now unfolded its shade sail, so say The Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye on Twitter.