Cosmos 1 Set to Test Solar Sail

It'll be interesting to track the progress of this test. The prototype sails are thin mylar, which could run into serious problems with space debris. I guess they've taken this into account as the test is short because the mylar will disintegrate. Any idea what materials could be used to fashion future sails? Keep in mind that the plan is to use these sails for deep space exploration, so they'd have to survive the turbulence of crossing the heliosheath to escape the solar system. And what of the space beyond where the light of the sun would diminish long before that of another star could be picked up?

Also, I'm a bit sceptical of the claim that the sails will catch solar power like boat sails catch wind. If so, could there be dead space like the Doldrums to worry about?

I think that the interest is in the fact that they will achieve tremendous speeds, they will accelerate as long as they are in sunlight. By the time they get to the Heliosheath they will have retracted the sails and just go on momentum.