AKS 1 is a solar sail experimental satellite. Built by Aerospace Systems. Initially scheduled for launch in December 2004, it was rescheduled for launch in March 2007. The launch was once again postponed, reportedly for financial reasons.
This satellite is designed to test and set up a global system for lighting Earth's night surfaces from space. The satellite is also designed for partial shielding of Earth's surface from the Sun's radiation. By using orbital reflectors it is believed possible to build an ecologically harmless system of climate control. Because of the small size of the reflectors in the experiment on AKS 1, it is not going to stimulate any serious processes. For instance, using the orbital reflector the size of a tennis court, like that carried on AKS 1, the Earth's surface will not experience temperature changes of more than 1 degree Celsius.
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