(Yicai Global) Dec. 27 -- The Siasail-I solar sail, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shenyang Institute of Automation, has finished testing of key technologies carrying a satellite. This is the first time that China has completed such in-orbit trials of core technology that will support the development of large solar sails.

Siasail-I is smaller than 0.5 U (1 U is 10 centimeters x 10 cm x 10 cm, or 1,000 cm3) before it was launched and it has started a series of technical tests after the satellite platform entered orbit, the Science and Technology Daily reported, citing researcher Liu Jinguo, the project's leader and deputy director of the SIA's space automation technology laboratory.

Data and photos that have been returned to Earth show that Siasail-I has successfully completed in-orbit testing of many key technologies. Tests on institutional life, material properties and orbital height will be carried out later.

A solar sail is a spacecraft powered by the pressure of the sun's rays. Because such vehicles do not use additional fuel, they are considered the most likely to reach the outer solar system.

They are low cost, low energy and long range, but the manufacturing technology is difficult and involves many disciplines. Japan, the US and the UK have successfully carried out research on in-orbit solar sails.

Editor: Peter Thomas