On 21 May 2010, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the world's first interplanetary solar sail spacecraft "IKAROS" (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) to Venus. Using a new solar-photon propulsion method, it was the first true solar sail spacecraft fully propelled by sunlight,Maiden voyage for first true space sail, New Scientist and was the first spacecraft to succeed in solar sail flight.
On 21 May 2010, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the world's first interplanetary solar sail spacecraft "IKAROS" (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) to .Venus Using a new solar-photon propulsion method, it was the first true solar sail spacecraft fully propelled by sunlight,Maiden voyage for first true space sail, New Scientist and was the first spacecraft to succeed in solar sail flight.