Solar sails use the steady stream of particles (and light) from the Sun (light sail when some other source is used, e.g. a laser) for propulsion, not unlike sailboats on Earth that utilize the force of wind to travel. Often cited as the future most economical way for inter-stellar travel, such sails would normally be large, thin, and lightweight, so as to capture the maximum possible radiation from the Sun. When the solar thrust is not needed, the sail can be either collapsed into a smaller area, or re-aligned to present the smallest area to the solar stream.
NASA engineers (and partners) are preparing to test two 20-meter (66-feet) long solar sail propulsion system designs (starting April 18). Such sails can be utilized for deeps-space missions later in this century.
Solar Sail (Courtesy: Wikimedia)
Solar sails are normally hundreds of times thinner that a slice of paper. Thin, yet durable, the only hazards they might face in space is a random micro-meterorite impact. The NASA sails will be tested in a vacuum chamber that will simulate the space environment. Both the sails will be tested during April-June 2005.
Among the future propulsion systems that are currently on the drawing board, solar sails are the cheapest to implement, and have the greatest potential. Since there is little need for other fuel, solar-powered spaceships can be light-weight. And of course, by 2100, one should have such a hardy bunch of ships, carrying supplies from one space-colony to another in the solar system. Hey, it doesn't hurt to dream, right?! :):)
NASA engineers (and partners) are preparing to test two 20-meter (66-feet) long solar sail propulsion system designs (starting April 18). Such sails can be utilized for deeps-space missions later in this century.
Solar Sail (Courtesy: Wikimedia)
Solar sails are normally hundreds of times thinner that a slice of paper. Thin, yet durable, the only hazards they might face in space is a random micro-meterorite impact. The NASA sails will be tested in a vacuum chamber that will simulate the space environment. Both the sails will be tested during April-June 2005.
Among the future propulsion systems that are currently on the drawing board, solar sails are the cheapest to implement, and have the greatest potential. Since there is little need for other fuel, solar-powered spaceships can be light-weight. And of course, by 2100, one should have such a hardy bunch of ships, carrying supplies from one space-colony to another in the solar system. Hey, it doesn't hurt to dream, right?! :):)
NASA Solar Sail
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13 Comments:
1/ Punctures : because the sail is incredibly light and thin it is likely to suffer meteorite puncture and even very small rips could destroy the integrity of it and hence the usefulness.
2/ Losing the wind : the solar wind is only 'strong' near the sun, elsewhere it becomes weaker, so a large laser would be needed to provide a substitute, and hence a non-eco-friendly power source.
For inter-planetary travel, yes. For point-to-point inter-stellar travel, no.
This idea does not float my boat, so to speak...
Broomhilda: Heh! But you should be inside a spacesuit, right?
Onkroes:
1) Punctures are a problem. But one might have self-healing sails someday (such ideas are already being floated) and that might be able to handle small punctures.
2) True that it is only strong near the sun. But one could imagine gathering speed by revolving around the sun for a few times (by deflecting the sunlight in the direction of the orbit), and then travel outwards like a slingshot. One you have a gathered a particular speed, you wont slow down (unless you are in a gravitational well), and then again use the reverse technique to slow down near another star :-D.
Wayne: Solar sails can work for inter-stellar travel. You wont have much control once you have started, but if could aim correctly, you will reach your destination. True that you have to rely on all the elements, but you only need the sail during acceleration and decceleration, and during rest of the time, you can collapse it. Perhaps you can also carry a spare one?!
The sails are really fragile (thinner than paper). But space is really empty, so the chance of anything large hitting it is probably very remote. In any case, the technology will take years to mature. Scientists are testing theoretical models now, to see if theory describes how sails will work in practice.
In my minds eye I cam see sailing among the pictures taken from hubble.
Your post has given me an idea for a new poem. It hasn't fully formed yet, but it is incubating.
I think they are still trying.. there was some problem with the russian craft.. so the mission was postponed. Sometime later this year, I think.
Now that you spilled the beans on your alien brethren, I am promptly informing my colleagues at NASA and elsewhere to start putting laser-guns on the sail-ships... to poke holes in the inferior hulls of your pathetic ships... Earth will not kowtow to space-aliens. War!!! :-D:-D.
But ahem, seriously speaking, the technology will surely mature in the next few decades, with advancement in materials science etc., who knows? perhaps take a solar glider one day, and jump off the Martian moons, where the gravity is so weak that we can jump off just like that :-). Then point the sails, and off you go!!!
Lucretia: I got a bit carried away there :-D:-D. Of course, you are just a carrot. So are your homeys (potatos, beet-root and whatnot :-D:-D)... but I thought they banished you on this planet for being too nice :-):-).
Sagan was cool. We need more scientists like him, sadly they come too few and far between :-(:-(.
Once I am done with my PhD (hopefully), perhaps I will get some time to write some serious stuff.
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