Summary: Solar Sail Craft Crashes to Earth

ENGINE FAILURE: The world’s first solar sail spacecraft crashed back to Earth when the booster rocket’s engine failed less than two minutes after Tuesday’s takeoff, Russian space officials said.

FALSE HOPE: Scientists lost communication with the spacecraft soon after the launch, but thought they had picked up signals after an all-day search.

MAYBE NEXT TIME?: Solar sails are seen as a means for achieving interstellar flight by using the gentle push from the continuous stream of light particles.