NASAs Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) contacted ground operators on Tuesday at 2:30 a.m. Thesolar sail mission launchedon April 23 on board Rocket Labs Electron rocket from New Zealand.

Once unfurled, the solar sail will stretch across 30 feet (9 meters) per side.

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An artist’s concept of the Solar Sail mission in orbit.

An artist’s concept of the Solar Sail mission in orbit.Illustration: NASA

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