eldavojohn writes "A recent meeting held by the Finnish Meteorological Institute has resulted in plans to build an electric solar sail that will circle Earth gaining speed to test its acceleration. The purpose? "A flight out of the solar system to measure the gas, dust, plasma and magnetic field in the undisturbed interstellar space would perhaps be the 'flagship' thing to do," said Pekka Janhunen, a researcher developing the sail at the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The details and papers of this project (over two years in the making) can be found at www.electric-sailing.com. This is a different concept from the ion engines we discuss as it uses solar wind, not magnetic fields for propulsion. I certainly hope it will show more success than the similar delayed launch of the U.S.-Russian venture and it's subsequent complete failure." Link to Original Source
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