VonHelton Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY WILL LAUNCH COSMOS 1 - THE FIRST SOLAR SAIL SPACECRAFT! A solar sail is a spacecraft without an engine - it is pushed along directly by light particles from the Sun, reflecting off giant mirror-like sails. Because it carries no fuel and keeps accelerating over almost unlimited distances, it is the only technology now in existence that can one day take us to the stars. More....... http://www.planetary.org/solarsail/ :stare: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuages Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 I was wondering when they were going to launch!!! it was already past the two dates they gave earlier. I am quite excited for the launch of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werecow Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 taking bets on where it will crash back to earth when it finishes it's mission!!!!! 10-1 on australia (it has a way of drawing satelites in)!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azuro Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 isnt that the bajouran thing? i never thought it was possible. will it be manned? to lazy to go to the link :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonHelton Posted April 11, 2005 Author Share Posted April 11, 2005 I don't think it's manned, no........This is merely a test to see if Solar Sailing is viable. (I believe that it is!) ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vystral Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 The theory of solar sails is sound. I can't see why it wouldn't work. Although, won't vacinity to Earth or any other celestial body affect this? (gravity) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oma Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 How will it....return? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonHelton Posted April 12, 2005 Author Share Posted April 12, 2005 Vys & Oma........No idea! :stare: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thanatos355 Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 too damn cool! :D cant wait to see how it does! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuages Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 This is actually the second solar sail to be launced, one was launcehed before and tested, it was just the sail though, this is the first time with a craft attached to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werecow Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 How will it....return? according to the article if it not able to achieve a stable orbit it will return to earth like skylab or bounce off into the cosmos to sail forever like an unmanned ghost ship.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oma Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 How will it....return? according to the article if it not able to achieve a stable orbit it will return to earth like skylab or bounce off into the cosmos to sail firever like an unmanned ghost ship.. And with the possibility of reaching 3/4ths of the speed of light...could go far... But I'm jut wondering - can solar sails get you closer to the center of the galaxy? Wouldn't the higher amount of light emanating push you outwards? Unless, of course, you can make a sail that only offers resistane to light from one side....anyone know about this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkusSVK Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 I think that the sail would be useless for the return mision.It would have to have an engine that it pushes in the return direction(sailing against the wind is hard I think). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qkghost Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 I'm sorry, but this is just pure pwnage! Best luck and wishes to the Planetary Society, and much gratitude for demonstrating human ingenuity and bringing us one step deeper into the cosmos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werecow Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 I think that the sail would be useless for the return mision.It would have to have an engine that it pushes in the return direction(sailing against the wind is hard I think). sail boats do it all you have to do is tack the sail...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oma Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Hmmm....that makes me think of pirates in space... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werecow Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 avast mateys!!!! Mars off the starboard bow!!!! bring in the riggings!!!! prepare to dock!!!!! steal their women and rape their cattle!!! RRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maverick Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 just watched DS9 explorers, where sisco and jake build a light ship and travelto the cardassian system. exciting stuff :D :cyclops: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kciss Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 This Should be Fun, lets hope it works, just as long as we done go strght to Cardassia first :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paniq Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 just watched DS9 explorers, where sisco and jake build a light ship and travelto the cardassian system. Yes they just missed out the fact that light ships are slow - eventually they get fast due to constant acceleration. Mind you the Solar Sail was originally science fiction (Arthur C Clarke). I like it when SciFi becomes SciFact :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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