Solar Blade near the moon, Earth in background

Moon framed by Solar Blade

Solar Blade from back

Deployment, step 1: Solar Blade stowed on Ariane

Deployment, step 2: Release, struts deploy

Deployment, steps 3, 4: Spinup, blades unroll, separation from stowage vehicle

Deployment, final: Solar Blade fully deployed, near Earth

Movies

Solar Blade Movie, Version II in Quicktime (56 MB)

Solar Blade Movie, Version II in MPEG (56 MB)

Solar Blade Movie, Version I in Quicktime (34.5 MB)

Solar Blade Movie, Version I in MPEG (34.5 MB)

(There is 12 seconds of black at the beginning of Version I)