The first solar sail flight will be a private venture not a government one. The attempt for the first solar sail flight is daunting privately conducted, publicly visible a mission for the world. The goal of the mission is to achieve the first solar sail flight increase orbit energy strictly due to sunlight pressure for at least several days. Pictures of the sail in flight will be sent to Earth. And pictures of the sail from Earth will also be possible the sail will be visible from Earth.
Solar sailing enables space travel without fuel.
Applications from creating space weather satellites holding position against the force of gravity, to interplanetary shuttles carrying cargo between the planets and the asteroids and comets are all part of the solar sailing future. By diving in close to the Sun, future solar sails will achieve enormous velocities enabling rendezvous with any solar system object, or, as mentioned above, the beginning of a flight to the stars. A private mission, but a public venture one open to sharing, through the Internet, to the whole world. The Planetary Society, 2000-2001.