 |
|
 |
Solar Sail (Light Sail)
A form of propulsion for spacecraft; a sheet of lightweight material reflects light from the sun or other light source. (Read
the full article)
"Solar Sails:
Put a Nuclear Reactor, and a Laser on a boom from the Solar Sail. Earth to Mars in a few days."
(John 2/11/2005 4:10:29 PM ) |
"A very good article on the history of the idea of solar sailing. The only story I would add to the list would be Arthur C. Clarke's "Wind From the Sun." Still available in a short story collection by the same title."
( 2/11/2005 10:50:06 PM ) |
"In the Mars Trilogy, Kim Stanley Robinson wrote of a aluminum foil type sail or reflector. It reflected the suns' rays to Mars and melted channels through the fermas.
Anyhow, your article and efforts of those involved is great!
DMB"
(Dina Mae Brandt 2/12/2005 9:59:08 AM ) |
"Two items.
1. My uncle, Herb Lawrence, appeared on Los Angeles television news in about 1956 speaking about solar sails. I think he worked for Northrop then. Not long afterward, Boys Life featured a story about a solar regatta."
(Mike Martin 2/14/2005 11:50:04 AM ) |
"One way to deal with the problem of sail material weight: use a gas.
http://www.ess.washington.edu/Space/M2P2/"
(Matt Z 6/28/2006 12:59:41 AM ) |
"in case anyone is still looking at this thread, i too saw mike martin's story in boy's life. the excitement is still fresh in my mind, though the details of the story have faded.
as for john's idea, bend down, grab your bootstraps, and lift your feet off the ground. now do it again. much simpler than a nuclear reactor etc, and just as effective."
(mike foster 10/9/2007 7:41:00 PM ) |
More info on Solar Sail (Light Sail)
Leave a comment:
Tediously, spammers have returned. So, send me your comments to bill at the site name (be sure to mention the page) and I'll post them. Thanks!
|
 |
Current News Articles
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
'So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches...'
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
'...nurse drones that would cruise around dumping large amounts of power into randomly selected pods.'
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
'It's done with a flip of the third joint of the tentacle on the down beat.'
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.'
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.'
Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
'...like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
'You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.'
|
 |