U.S. group plans new attempt to launch 'solar sail'

Keeping fingers crossed. That's quite an undertaking. Hoping all goes well. :fingersx:
 
Interesting. what is it used for? light? or radition? I like to understand better about it. :o
 
Anonymous donor gave them $1M. Talk about pressure. :eek3:
 
Frisky Feline said:
Interesting. what is it used for? light? or radition? I like to understand better about it. :o
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this is actually powered by sunlight. the purpose of it is to see if it can do long-distance space flight to a far far far far away.... perhaps out of our planet system! If it really works - this will dramatically change our space missions because most are powered by nuclear. theoretically - a satellite powered by "solar energy" would be very very fast.... up to 100,000 mph!
 
Thanks Jiro. If it is successful then they can reduce of using fuel and using more sunlight?
 
Frisky Feline said:
Thanks Jiro. If it is successful then they can reduce of using fuel and using more sunlight?
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no fuel. just purely sunlight. They have to make it as light as possible. However - NASA likes to have redundancy in place so it is possible that they may use a small amount of fuel for back-up or emergency purpose.
 
Jiro said:
no fuel. just purely sunlight. They have to make it as light as possible. However - NASA likes to have redundancy in place so it is possible that they may use a small amount of fuel for back-up or emergency purpose.
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Yeah that's what I mean they rather use the sunlight more often than using something else such as a fuel in order to save or back up for emergency purpose.
 
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