$ASTI The "solar sail" is a form of spacecraft pr

$ASTI The "solar sail" is a form of spacecraft propulsion that uses radiation pressure exerted by the sun. This propulsion technology is also called the "photon sail" and the "light sail". You see, folks, the sun is continuously shooting out photons. Although photons do not have mass, they do have a little bit of momentum. The solar sail is essentially a giant mirror that reflects the photons back in the direction they came from, while shoving the sail in the opposite direction. Over time, this momentum gradually increases. In three years, a solar sail could reach speeds of 150,000 mph (240,000 kph), scientists estimate. At that speed, it could reach Pluto in less than five years. As a comparison, it took NASA's Voyager spacecraft over 12 years to reach a similar distance using conventional propellants. And guess who launched the first solar sail into space? It would be wishful thinking if you thought it was NASA. No folks, this time it was JAXA (The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). JAXA is the “NASA of Japan”. JAXA is very well funded – recording a budget of 184 Billion Yen in 2015 – and like most things ‘Japan’, are positioned to lead.




http://www.thesultansofswingtrading.com/2016/...space.html

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