Japanese Deploy Solar Sail

Chuck1318 writes "The Japanese ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) announced the launch and deployment of the first ever large-scale solar sail. In the news release they state "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.""

Whatever happened to Big1

[Hido]

Does this mean that plans for taking the flying steam-powered train to the stars is cancelled?

Ironically

[chancycat]

Ironically, this technology can take us to 'the stars' but not toward our own. Better not change your mind and want to turn around less than half-way to Alpha Proxima...

Re:Ironically

[StarHeart]

There is probably some engineering trick to work around this. It might be possible to use mirrors to shine on the opposite side of the sail. Almost surely wouldn't be as fast, but seems like it would be doable.

Obvious Answer

[rf0]

Solar Anchor :)

Rus

Re:Wrong

[Anonymous Coward]

"But it's nuk-yu-ler, so it doesn't count."

Yeah, GW's nuk-yu-ler missile shield will shoot it down before it even achieves earth orbit...

Re:Stellar Pong?

[Marsala]

That's why one crew member will be trained extensively in the use of tin snips in zero-gee environments.

Although that'd be a great way to freak out an alien race... Kind of like pulling a Rama on 'em.

Re:Stellar Pong?

[eric76]

An interstellar yoyo?

Re:Ironically

[andreMA]

Why would you want to go to the sun. You'll just die.

That, of course, is why you go at night!

Solar sailing

[antikarma]

It won't be a viable method of transportation between solar systems until it has an anti-pirate defense system. Giant solar sails just scream "come and get me space pirates."

Re:Going to Sol

[name773]

sounds kind of... tacky.
:)

Re:Ironically

[MrBlue VT]

Homer: All that counts is that we're alive and rubbing elbows with the greats. [gasps] Ooh, there's Ross Perot, Dr. Laura, Spike Lee.

Bart: Wait a minute, they're not so great.

Homer: Okay but there's Dan Quayle, Courtney Love, [increasing panic], Tonya Harding, Al Sharpton, Ah! Tom Arnold! What the hell's going on?

Bart: [looking out porthole] Wait! Only that ship's going to Mars. Ours is headed for the sun.

Arnold: Yeah, ain't that a kick in the teeth? I mean, my shows weren't great but I never tied people up and forced them to watch. And I could've, because I'm a big guy and I'm good with knots.

Homer: So we're all going to die?

Arnold: 'Fraid so, but, hey, the grub's pretty good, huh? [chuckles, and then pours a can of peaches in his mouth]

Homer: The sun? That's the hottest place on Earth.

Shore: Gonna work on my tannage, buddy.

Arnold: Pauly Shore? Wow! Hey, we should do a show together, man. That's a sure cure for the blues!

So maybe we could just

[Anonymous Coward]

Send Texas and the Middle East to another planet? That would satisfy both sides, right?

DS9 episode

[TheRealStaunch]

This reminds of the Deep Space 9 episode in season 3 where Sisko builds a primitive Bajoran sail ship and attempts to fly to Cardassia with it.

Yikes!

[payndz]

Those pictures make it look like Vejur, coming to cleanse the carbon-unit infestation from the Creator's planet...

Re:Stellar Pong?

[xsupergr0verx]

Wrong! This was developed in Japan, so all the astronaut needs to do is use the Starwaker baton and conduct a tune to change directions.

The Americans have to wait about 6 months to get this technology, unless they install a modchip on their spaceships.

Re:Stellar Pong?

[Scarblac]

The right reply: "But Sir, I said we ran out of fuel"

"and besides, complete stop related to what, Sir?"

Re:Stellar Pong?

[Lord Kano]

Why retract? Just release. It's not like it's going to be used again.

Why not? Return trip? On to next destination?

LK

Been There, Done That

[Anonymous Coward]

Count Dooku has had a bitchin' solar sail for years now. Old news.

Crucial problem

[SleezyG]

Okay, everyone. Let's calm down. The Japanese, or any other Earthlings, will not have to worry about changing their velocity at Alpha Centari anytime soon. The fact is, all they accomplished was opening two differently shaped pieces of foil above Earth over a 400 second period.

Please. I used to launch Estes rockets with shiny parachutes. Prove to me that it WASN'T photons reflected from the Earth into my solar parachute that were slowing my rocket's descent. So NASA, ISAS, and 14-year-old model rocket enthusiasts have simply proven that gravity will pull anything you launch into the sky back to Earth.