Solar-powered spacecraft feared lost

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.

"The booster's failure means the solar sail vehicle was lost," said Vyacheslav Davidenko, spokesman for the Russian space agency.

However, U.S. scientists said their tracking stations may have received some signals from the craft, which was launched Tuesday afternoon from a Russian submarine in the Barents Sea.

• FROM JUNE 21, 2005: Status of solar sail spacecraft uncertain

The solar sail, which gathers the sun's energy, eliminates the need for chemical rocket fuel in orbit. Because of its limitless energy supply, it is geared to travel farther than traditional rockets, according to officials.

Proponents suggest a solar-powered craft could even cross the vast distances between stars by gradually accelerating to near the speed of light.