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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
First Contact! LightSail 2 Phones Home to Mission Control
The mission team received LightSail 2's first signals on 2 July at 01:34 PDT (08:34 UTC), as the spacecraft passed over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California.
LightSail 2 Has Launched!
The Planetary Society's solar sail CubeSat lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 25 June at 02:30 EDT (06:30 UTC).
LightSail 2 is Ready for Launch
The Planetary Society's solar sailing spacecraft is ready to take flight. We got an up-close look at its ride to orbit.
Here's Our First Look at LightSail 2 Installed on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rocket
LightSail 2 is one of 24 spacecraft hitching a ride to orbit as part of the U.S. Air Force's STP-2 mission.
What to Expect when LightSail 2 Launches into Space
Our preview guide outlines the LightSail 2 mission from start to finish.
LightSail 2 Launch Viewing: Tips & Tricks
LightSail 2 is launching on the next SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is one payload of many on the mission known collectively as STP-2. Space Test Program (STP) is a crucial part of the US Air Force’s development of advanced technologies in space.
Your Impact: June Solstice 2019
The first of two new columns rounds up all the ways Society members are making a difference for space.
LightSail 2 Has a New Launch Date!
The official launch date is now no earlier than June 24th, and the launch window still opens at 11:30 p.m. eastern time.
What's the Difference between LightSail 1 and LightSail 2?
While LightSail 1 and 2 look nearly identical at a glance, there are a few important hardware differences between the two spacecraft.
How to Send a Camera to Mars
The next Martian explorer, Mars 2020, currently exists as a robotic skeleton at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Teams across the world are working diligently to construct the instruments that will adorn the rover, inside and out, and thereby give it the tools it needs to explore.
LightSail 2 Arrives in Florida
Next Stop: Space!
Getting an Opportunity to Give Your Presentation
Want to give a presentation on behalf of The Planetary Society in your community? We have tips and tricks for you!
Organizing a Watch Party
Watch parties are a fun and informal way to bring together space fans and the public to experience the excitement of space exploration.
LightSail Launch Event
LightSail 2’s launch window opens on June 22, and we are finalizing plans for our launch viewing celebrations. Once we have finished coordinating the details with the Air Force’s STP-2 mission team and the Kennedy Space Center, we will share them with all of our members and backers so that you can join us in person or remotely via the internet.
LightSail 2 set to launch next month aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
The Planetary Society's solar sail spacecraft will lift off 22 June 2019 on a mission to demonstrate the power of sunlight for propulsion.
LightSail 2 Integrated with Prox-1 Carrier Spacecraft
The Planetary Society's solar sailing CubeSat is officially on the road to launch.
Accuracy Can Be Fun!
The Planetary Society's Emily Lakdawalla worked closely with Chop Shop Studio to support the creation of a new product: Planetary Blocks.
The Planetary Society Announces 2019 Call for Proposals for Shoemaker NEO Grant Program
Our grants fund amateur observers, underfunded professional observers, and observers in developing countries who make vital contributions to NEO research.
How Your Donations are Helping Planetary Society Asteroid Hunters
Each year, we ask our Shoemaker NEO Grant winners to help us tell the world about their work. Here's what they said.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Flies Again; LightSail 2 Is Next!
SpaceX also went three-for-three on booster landings, marking another milestone for its Falcon Heavy rocket.