Solar-powered spacecraft feared lost

CBC News:

A spacecraft designed to be the first space vehicle entirely propelled by the sun's energy was feared lost on Wednesday. Russian officials said they were looking for debris from Cosmos 1, a joint U.S.-Russia craft powered by solar sail, saying it had not gained orbit due to a booster rocket failure. Drawing of Cosmos 1 leaving the orbit of Earth. 'The booster's failure means the solar sail vehicle was lost,' said Vyacheslav Davidenko, spokesman for the Russian space agency.

Too bad. It was a neat idea and I am always happy to see private ventures into space.