[IceFire]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4110912.stm

Sounds cool.  But I've read that some debate exists amongst phyisicsts on if this theory will actually work.  They aren't sure on the properties of light and what effect it will have on the sail if any.

Soon we'll find out!

[Ford Prefect]

Yeah, I read about this a while ago when I was getting the Planetary Society's newsletter. Pretty exciting stuff, I must say.

[Jetmech Jr.]

Yeeeeah...exciting.

Not exactly the word I'd use for a sail, but whatever floats your boat. (no bad pun intended. Don't kill me)

[FireCrack]

Well ,it's a proven physical fact that light will push on the sail, but to what extent...

But then again, the only way to be sure is an experiment, as such i gladly support this one.


I'm curios, is this supposed to eventualy leave earth orbit?

[Ghostavo]

Originally posted by FireCrack
Well ,it's a proven physical fact that light will push on the sail, but to what extent...

But then again, the only way to be sure is an experiment, as such i gladly support this one.


I'm curios, is this supposed to eventualy leave earth orbit?

This can easily be carried in a laboratory, my previous school had a simple piece of equipment to prove this. It was a glass round compartment with a hole underneath, and it had in the middle something akin to a windmill, except the surfaces (made of a very thin aluminium layer) were perpendicular to the only possible motion. When made light hit one of the surfaces, it would start to move, when you used a laser, it would go berzerk.

The problem is the speed gain by such a method in regard for the mass it carries. Something about many square kilometers to transport 50 Kg worth of equipment is a bit...

[Nuke]

their math aparently says its possible. otherwise they wouldnt spend millions on it. the advantage is you have virtually limetless supply of propulsion, the bad side is that you have really pisspoor aceleration.

[BlackDove]

The launch on Tuesday is timed for 1946 GMT (2046 BST).  

Yeah. Putting it at a rounded number would just be stupid.

Other than that, all  for space exploration of any kind.

[FireCrack]

Originally posted by Ghostavo


This can easily be carried in a laboratory, my previous school had a simple piece of equipment to prove this. It was a glass round compartment with a hole underneath, and it had in the middle something akin to a windmill, except the surfaces (made of a very thin aluminium layer) were perpendicular to the only possible motion. When made light hit one of the surfaces, it would start to move, when you used a laser, it would go berzerk.

The problem is the speed gain by such a method in regard for the mass it carries. Something about many square kilometers to transport 50 Kg worth of equipment is a bit...

I know that we already know that, but how effective would it be. As per the first bit of my post.

[Ghostavo]

We also know how effective it can be... see the second paragraph of my post you quoted.

[Nico]

If the thing can get to space first, that is...

[kode]

Originally posted by BlackDove


Yeah. Putting it at a rounded number would just be stupid.

well, if you can convince the solar system to play by rounded numbers, then be my (and their) guest. there are quite a lot of factors involved in launches, y'know.

[karajorma]

I'm just wondering what they're doing about micrometeors.

[pyro-manic]

Originally posted by karajorma
I'm just wondering what they're doing about micrometeors.

Good point - most debris (especially all the crap that's in orbit) would rip the sail to shreds...

Interesting stuff, though

EDIT: just a random observation, but that's a rather odd method of launching. You'd think it'd be easier and cheaper to launch from Baykenoor (sp??) or somewhere similar....

[Swamp_Thing]

It´s Count Doku´s ship!!

[NGTM-1R]

NORAD's probably a bit put out about this...

Baikonur probably would be cheaper, but on the other hand, as a practical matter, they can launch from alongside the pier. (Though I don't think anyone's ever actually tried that, and it would probably burn a hole through the bottom of the missile tube, maybe through the whole submarine.)

[Nuke]

when you think about it that kind of missile was designed to be launched from that kind of submarine. afterall, it is a refurbished icbm. weve used most of ours for sattelite launches and i suppose the russians are following suit

[Kosh]

Not like the Russians are going to run out of ICBMs anytime soon.

[Nuke]

Originally posted by Kosh
Not like the Russians are going to run out of ICBMs anytime soon.

they will before we do
i like the way the russians run their space program, they dont build anything they dont need too, they stick with hardware they know will work, they fund their program by selling seats to rich adventurers, and when they **** up theres usually a gargantuan explosion.

[WMCoolmon]

Originally posted by Swamp_Thing
It´s Count Doku´s ship!!

And yet I wonder about the feasability of a solar sail on a faster-than-light craft.

[achtung]

Originally posted by WMCoolmon


And yet I wonder about the feasability of a solar sail on a faster-than-light craft.

Brakes?