Japan's Solar Sail Sucess - 07/26/10 12:23 AM
Japan's solar sail Ikaros, is unfurled accelerating, and flying towards Venus.
Its guidance system has yet to be tested. But in all other respects its a great success.
Japan launched two Solar sails beck in 2004, plus the Americans and Russians have had a go, without much success. All have had unfurling problems due to the thin
silvered 'Mylar' involved.
Its unlikely that our sun would be strong enough to push a solar Sail beyond Jupiter?
But prehaps future guidance in that case could come from a Laser directed from the surface of Mars or an orbiting satellite?
http://www.space.com/news/solar-sail-exploration-hailed-100721.html