IKAROSは，太陽の光の力をセイル（帆）に受けて進むソーラーセイル（宇宙帆船）に加え，セイルに貼り付けられた薄膜の太陽電池で太陽光発電も行うソーラー電力セイルを実証するために開発されました．
IKAROSは，2010年5月21日にH-IIAロケットで打上げられ，14m四方の正方形のセイルを宇宙空間でスピンの遠心力を用いて展開し，薄膜太陽電池による発電を確認しました．さらに，太陽の光の力により加速していることを実証すると同時に，液晶デバイス等によってセイルの向きを調整することで軌道制御を行い，ソーラーセイルによる航行技術を獲得しました．これらはいずれも世界初の快挙です．
IKAROSは2025年5月15日に停波作業を行い，15年間の運用を終了しました．IKAROSは航空宇宙技術遺産に認定されました．獲得した技術やノウハウを様々なミッションへ継承・発展させていく予定です．

This is a small scale demonstration satellite that uses solar power generated via thin film solar cells attached to its sail, called a solar sail because it captures the sun’s energy to propel itself. This experiment verified that the satellite could be accelerated with solar power while it was also possible to control the trajectory of the satellite with LCD devices, etc. and verify navigational technology that made use of the solar sail.
In addition to its solar sail which works by capturing solar power in its sail for propulsion, IKAROS was developed for verifying the functionality of a solar powered sail which also generates solar power via thin film solar cells attached to a sail.
IKAROS was launched on the 21st of May in 2010 on an H-IIA rocket, the satellite was directed by the centrifugal force of its 14 m square sail in space, and it was confirmed that it produced power using thin film solar cells. Trajectory control was also performed by adjusting the direction of the sail through LCD devices, etc. while at the same time verifying acceleration using solar power and navigational technology using the solar sail was obtained. These were all remarkable firsts in the world.
On May 15, 2025, IKAROS ceased transmission, concluding 15 years of operations. IKAROS has been recognized as an Aerospace Technology Heritage asset. The technologies and know-how gained will be carried forward and further developed for future missions.