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Japanese Deploy Solar Sail

Posted by timothy on from the ix-as-an-archipeligo dept.

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.""

19 of 433 comments (clear)

  1. Whatever happened to Big1 by Hido · · Score: 1, Funny

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

    --
    Havin' it large, livin' the life, Welcome to the land of the rising sun.
  2. Ironically by chancycat · · Score: 3, Funny

    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...

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    Evan - needs to hit preview before submitting
    1. Re:Ironically by StarHeart · · Score: 2, Funny

      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.

      --
      Havoc Penington, the bane of my Linux desktop.
    2. Re:Ironically by andreMA · · Score: 5, Funny
      Why would you want to go to the sun. You'll just die.
      That, of course, is why you go at night!
    3. Re:Ironically by MrBlue+VT · · Score: 3, Funny
      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!
  3. Obvious Answer by rf0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Solar Anchor :)

    Rus

    --
    Cheap UK and US VPS
  4. Re:Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    "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...

  5. Re:Stellar Pong? by Marsala · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  6. Re:Stellar Pong? by eric76 · · Score: 2, Funny

    An interstellar yoyo?

  7. Solar sailing by antikarma · · Score: 4, Funny

    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."

  8. Re:Going to Sol by name773 · · Score: 2, Funny

    sounds kind of... tacky.
    :)

  9. So maybe we could just by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

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

  10. DS9 episode by TheRealStaunch · · Score: 1, Funny

    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.

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    -- Get
  11. Yikes! by payndz · · Score: 2, Funny

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

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    You must think in Russian.
  12. Re:Stellar Pong? by xsupergr0verx · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

    --

    Click here for a free picture of an iPod!
  13. Re:Stellar Pong? by Scarblac · · Score: 4, Funny

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

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

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    I believe posters are recognized by their sig. So I made one.
  14. Re:Stellar Pong? by Lord+Kano · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    Why not? Return trip? On to next destination?

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  15. Been There, Done That by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

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

  16. Crucial problem by SleezyG · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.