Launch Date for First Solar Sail due Monday

PGillingwater writes "The Planetary Society (home of SETI) is planning to launch the first Solar Sail Spacecraft, Cosmos 1, later this month. The exact launch date is scheduled to be announced on Monday, May 9. This event represents one of the first privately-funded space missions with the objective of pure research. It will be launched from a Russian submarine in the Barents Sea. The spacecraft consists of a body surrounded by 8 triangular sails, that will use the tiny force of reflected sunlight to (potentially) accelerate to tremendous speeds. Unfortunately, the craft is not expected to leave Earth's orbit due to degradation of the mylar materials, but should be a proof of concept for subsequent missions."

Comments

Woah!

[Randy Wang]

Unfortunately, the craft is not expected to leave Earth's orbit due to degradation of the mylar materials

The materials have degraded before it's even left Earth? Damn outsourcing...

Darn

[kassemi]

I'm curious to ask the guest of honor at the tonight's convention says about how successful this will be :)

Looking forward to this

[polysylabic psudonym]

There's been at least one physicist saying that solar sails won't work.

Re:Looking forward to this

[Anonymous Coward]

There's also been at least one physicist saying that time cube should be taken seriously.

Re:Why submarine launch?

[Woy]

That's like 189 of your neighboors coming to your house to tell you they disagree with the way you fuck your wife.

Re:Heartening news (Too much BBC)

[Anonymous Coward]

You have to face the inevitable fact that all things come to an end

No more Dr Who for you.