Cosmos 1

Cosmos 1 was an experimental spacecraft launched in 2005 by the Russian nonprofit organization LightSail Association to test solar sailing technology. It was propelled by sunlight, using large, reflective sails that capture solar radiation to generate thrust without fuel. Although the mission aimed to demonstrate this innovative propulsion method, it was tragically lost shortly after launch when a rocket failure caused it to crash back to Earth. Despite the failure, Cosmos 1 helped advance research into solar sailing, offering a promising method for future spacecraft to travel efficiently through space without conventional fuel.