Gama

Gama Alpha is in orbit! After just two years of R&D, our satellite containing the solar sail launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9. A solar sail uses only sunlight for propulsion, removing the need to carry fuel and opening new scientific and commercial possibilities in our solar system and beyond. The Gama Alpha mission is a 6U cubesat (the size of a large shoebox), weighing just 11 kilograms, that will deploy a large 73.3m2 sail. The mission will demonstrate the deployment and control of the sail, generating a wealth of data for the Gama team to refine the design and sail control algorithms. For the first phase of the mission, we are commissioning the satellite, establishing communications and checking all the vital signs are good. The next phase will learning how to operate and control a satellite, including sending software updates. The final step will be the sail deployment. The satellite will be put in slow rotation, initiating the release of four tungsten masses at the tip of each sail petal. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation ensures the deployment and the structural shape of the sail. The development of the satellite took two years, with many prototypes and iterations of the folding and deployment system of the sail, as well as development of simulations and software to control a large surface from a relatively small spacecraft. The Gama team can be proud of having achieved the ambitious timeframe, testimony to the hard work and the creative solutions to each of the hard problems encountered. While it is only one of many milestones, it is an important one as it shows what this team is capable, and brings the vision of revolutionising space transportation that much closer. It is also important to thank all of those who’ve supported the mission and helped us along the way. None of this would have been possible without the support of the French Space Agency, the Centre National d'Études Spatiales, as well as many other public and private enterprises, including the CMA CGM Group as our official sponsor, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions. Also Kongsberg NanoAvionics, Exolaunch, countless subject matter experts and of course our investors who helped fund this mission, and the broader mission to revolutionise access to deep space. Thank you! #space #satellite #solarsail #solarsailing #newspace #gama #gamaalpha #spacex #CNES #CMACGM #BetterWays

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merci L'Usine Nouvelle de mentionner Gama et ses recherches sur la voile solaire et les structures déployables #voilesolaire #space #solarsail

notre dernière intervention à propos de la mission voile solaire NASA ACS3 #Gama

🌟 NASA's recent collaboration with Rocket Lab has led to the successful launch of ACS3! 🛰️☀️ This milestone marks a significant step forward in space exploration, showcasing the potential of solar sailing technology to revolutionize how we navigate the cosmos. 🌌✨ #SolarSail #NASA #RocketLab #SpaceExploration #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gqzPcECp

thanks Maddyness #Gama https://lnkd.in/eYk7WWeK

always good for Gama to be cited by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration in one of its papers #deorbitation #solarsails https://lnkd.in/gdRnu_ar

A discussion on solar sails ✨ , from the basic concept, history and example scientific and commercial applications, all the way to speculating whether advanced alien civilisations might be already using them to explore the universe, with Andrew Nutter and Raphael Roettgen, CFA on the Space Business Podcast.