Current plans call for the probe to unfurl a solar sail 400 metres across shortly after launch.

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The current committee though said that its probe is not focussed just on Huawei.

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The Commons will vote on Thursday about whether to back the government's call for an immediate inquiry by a committee of MPs and peers or Labour's alternative proposal for a judge-led probe - similar to the current Leveson investigation in press standards.

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Its three scientific instruments would probe cosmic rays and clouds to test current models of climate change.

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This is similar to cytoscopy, except the probe is used to burn away cancer cells with an electric current.

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In fact, David Addington, the vice president's current chief of staff, says his office handed over more than 12, 000 documents as part of the probe, including many handwritten notes from Libby himself.

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