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NASA's solar sail successfully spreads its wings in space

Spacecraft data has confirmed successful deployment of the futuristic technology.

More than four months after launching to space, a solar-sailing spacecraft has successfully spread its wings above our planet. Though photons don't have mass, they can force momentum when they hit an object — that's what a solar sail takes advantage of. By adjusting the orbit, researchers will be able to learn more about how to design and operate future sola- sail-equipped missions.

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