beamrider wrote:
Not quite clear
NanoSail-D sails really unfurled. There are not any reliable earth observations that can confirm sails deployment.
Cubesats (very small satellites), in general, have a long history of failures or false confirmation signals.
If in the next two months nobody sees the mini solar spacecraft, most probable, sails did not unfurl.
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The Count of Monte Cristo. (1836)
by Alexandre Dumas, père
Well, unfurl your wings, and fly into superhuman regions; fear nothing, there is a watch over you;
and if your wings, like those of Icarus, melt before the sun, we are here to ease your fall.
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Furl, v. t. [Contr. fr. furdle, fr. fardel bundle: cf. F. ferler to furl, OF. fardeler to pack. See Furdle, Fardel, and cf. Farl.] To draw up or gather into close compass; to wrap or roll, as a sail, close to the yard, stay, or mast, or, as a flag, close to or around its staff, securing it there by a gasket or line. Totten.
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Two Years Before the Mast. (1848)
by Richard Henry Dana
. As soon as she was well at anchor, all hands lay aloft to furl the topsails; and this, I soon found, was a great matter on board this ship; for every sailor knows that a vessel is judged of, a good deal, by the furl of her sails.
. In fact, we could hardly get clear of them to go aloft and furl the sails.
. It was my duty to furl the fore royal; and, while standing by to loose it again, I had a fine view of the scene.
. After great exertions I got it, or the remains of it, into the top, and was making it fast, when the captain, looking up, called out to me, ``Lay aloft there, Dana, and furl that main royal.
. Now large eyes began to show themselves in the foresail, and, knowing that it must soon go, the mate ordered us upon the yard to furl it.
. The mate took us under his special care, frequently making us furl the sail over three or four times, until we got the bunt up to a perfect cone, and the whole sail without a wrinkle.
. This sail belonged to us altogether to reef and to furl, and not a man was allowed to come upon our yard.
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Moby-Dick (1850) Chapter 109
“Thou Art but too good a fellow, Starbuck,” he said lowly to the mate; then raising his voice to the crew: “Furl the t’gallant-sails, and close-reef the top-sails, fore and aft; back the main-yard; up Burtons, and break out in the main-hold.”
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NanoSail D
