Solar Sail - Future Approaches

Future Approaches

Despite the losses of Cosmos 1 and NanoSail-D (which were due to failure of their launchers), scientists and engineers around the world remain encouraged and continue to work on solar sails. While most direct applications created so far intend to use the sails as inexpensive modes of cargo transport, some scientists are investigating the possibility of using solar sails as a means of transporting humans. This goal is strongly related to the management of very large (i.e. well above 1 km²) surfaces in space and the sail making advancements. Thus, in the near/medium term, solar sail propulsion is aimed chiefly at accomplishing a very high number of non-crewed missions in any part of the solar system and beyond.

Read more about this topic:  Solar Sail

Famous quotes containing the words future and/or approaches:

    The yuppie idea of the future ain’t my idea of a future. Your safe car, and home, and job, and all the time rushing between the three—let’s make people feel they can grow up and have some education, some interest in life! That’s what counts!
    Joe Strummer (b. 1952)

    Someone approaches to say his life is ruined
    and to fall down at your feet
    and pound his head upon the sidewalk.
    David Ignatow (b. 1914)