Russian-made Cosmos 1 was launched into space yesterday aboard a multi-stage Russian Volna rocket.  The purpose of the mission was to test an experimental propulsion technology involving a solar sail with remote laser-assist.  Today, Russian space officials confirm that the test was most likely a failure.

The mission that was originally scheduled for launch in 2001 has suffered from numerous technical glitches as well as parts delays and a multitude of ground tests.  Unfortunately, no amount of testing guarantees success on space missions. 

As reported by World News:

"...Russian space officials said they were 'almost 100 per cent sure' that Cosmos 1 had crashed down to Earth because the first stage of the Volna rocket carrying it had malfunctioned."

No doubt, this is an unfortunate event.  In 2004, the Japanese space agency tested the deployment of solar sails in space, but did not actually test them as a means of propulsion.  Since NASA is still conducting ground-based tests on solar sails, the launch of Cosmos 1 was to be the first solar sail propulsion test.  Cosmos 1 suffered a similar failure during a prototype launch in 2001. 

Claiming the first functional solar sail would be a great source of pride, but would not substantially alter the commercial or research aspects of space travel in a way that gives one country a significant advantage over another. 

Still, Cosmos 1 was launched on the tip of a converted intercontinental ballistic missile from a Russian nuclear submarine.  This is positive for two reasons.  First, nuclear arms hardware is being used for scientific purposes and second, perhaps Russian nuclear ICBM’s didn’t pose the imminent threat we assumed for so long.

W.S.