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Solar Sails And Space Propulsion

Posted by Zonk on from the to-infinity dept.

Doomie writes "The Economist has an interesting article about solar sails. It talks about the Russian ICBM that will launch Cosmos 1 (mentioned previously on /.) 'The first craft powered by solar-sail technology to orbit the Earth', and the link between this technology and interplanetary travel. Cosmos 1 will orbit Earth starting on June 21st and could, in theory, reach '200,000kph after three years of acceleration' due to the fact that 'particles of light, or photons, that strike a surface give it a tiny push'. The official homepage of the project has more details." Update: 06/18 18:57 GMT by Z : While space trains would be cool, that wasn't the intent of the story. Changed rails to sails.

5 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Spelling errors by xwizbt · · Score: 4, Funny

    Isn't this supposed to be a professional website? I'm not the first poster, I realise, which means I'm certainly not the first person to notice the spelling error. But... hasn't this gone past an editor? I mean... what is going on here. Every post has an error of some kind... spelling, grammar... anything...



    I'd offer my services as a proofreader but I don't think I want to be associated with something so consistently shoddy...

    1. Re:Spelling errors by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well you know, sometimes you can mix things up when you're in a hurry. My guess is Zonk had just sniffed a rail when he accepted the story...

      --
      "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  2. So let me guess by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 3, Funny

    Union Pacific is to build the ship?

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  3. Obligitary star trek reference by FidelCatsro · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now all they need to do is hit a tachyon eddy and we can reach Cardasia

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  4. Re:WFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    You tried to read the article?? You must be new here.