More on Planetary Society Solar Sail Launch

gwernol writes "The BBC is reporting that a spacecraft powered by the solar wind will be launched into orbit in the fall. This is a direct competitor to the similar Russian effort recently discussed on Slashdot. Interestingly this is not a NASA-funded mission; it is financed by the Planetary Society using private money. Not quite the build-your-own rocketship recently reported here, but still good to see private funding in space driving some real innovation." We've mentioned this launch before.

This is the same project

[EccentricAnomaly]

The Planetary Society is working with the Russians. Both solar sail projects listed in the article are really the same project.

M2P2 is more promising

[spike hay]

This concept uses a simple electromagnet that has it's field lines dragged out by helium plasma. It would create a magnetic bubble 10 miles in diameter. This would use the solar wind as a sail, producing a constant 1 newton of thrust. This concept would be very simple to build with existing tech and would only weigh a few pounds. It could achieve speeds of around 200,000 miles per hour. The addition of dust to the bubble could accelerate it even more for a mission to another star.

amazing

[tps12]

I would like to use this technology to fly through space and live my dream [slashdot.org].

Hello, Gul Dukat's great great grandfather!

[doooras]

What happens if they get a little breeze of tachyons and get hurled into Cardassian space?

it's not the wind

[rakerman]

Unfortunately the ocean sailing analogy breaks down: solar sails are not propelled by the solar wind [nasa.gov], which is essentially a stream of particles from the sun. Solar sails are propelled by pure light pressure - by photons bouncing off of them.

Most innovations follow this path

[Nate Enderle]

Through the history of technology, most innovations have followed this path. A government spends the massive capitol to prove a concept, and then industry and the public take over. No sane businessman in the 1400's would have tried to sail across the Atlantic, even with known benefits, but a government could afford to try, just to see. I think (and hope) that space travel will work the same way. We proved that space is real, and now private industry and the public will find ways to use it. I just hope they happen in my lifetime.

Re:Most innovations follow this path

[Bearpaw]

Through the history of technology, most innovations have followed this path. A government spends the massive capitol to prove a concept, and then industry and the public take over.

Huh? Which government proved the concept of the solar sail?

No sane businessman in the 1400's would have tried to sail across the Atlantic, even with known benefits, but a government could afford to try, just to see.

Except that businessmen were trying to find a shortcut to Asia, and Columbus was financed by Queen Isabella personally, though I'll admit that distinguishing between her and the gov't of Spain at the time is tricky. But it was definitely an investment by the queen, who expected to be paid back and then some, ASAP. Contrary to what your history teacher may have told you, it was not just a "voyage of discovery".

What's NASA et al have "proved" is that space is for big gov'ts. Perhaps someday, someone will disprove that.

Ok then, many innovations follow this path

[Nate Enderle]

Go look at this article concerning nano-computers. Near the bottom, Small Times [smalltimes.com] it discusses GOVERNMENT funding of transistor research. Not to say that private business couldn't have done it, but they wouldnt have, not without knowing the benefits. And notice, in my post I DID say they were trying to find a route to Asia. The thing about known benefits refering to a shorter sea route to Asia, of course.

Outer planets

[hazyshadeofwinter]

Sounds like a cool way to send missions to the outer planets. (Hello Pluto!)

Wonder how steerable it is?