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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site azure.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!teklds!azure!philipl
From: philipl@azure.UUCP (Philip Lantz)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Light Sails with holes
Message-ID: <133@azure.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 2-Mar-85 15:40:33 EST
Article-I.D.: azure.133
Posted: Sat Mar  2 15:40:33 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 5-Mar-85 02:19:28 EST
References: <595@mordor.UUCP> <5095@utzoo.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 18

> If you really want high performance, especially in low Earth orbit, one
> intriguing notion is to take a Drexler aluminum sail and punch it full
> of very tiny (smaller than a wavelength of light) holes.  Holes which are
> significantly smaller than a wavelength of light will not affect the
> reflectivity of the sail, but they will lighten it considerably.  Just
> as interesting, air molecules at orbital altitudes are independent of
> each other and will go through tiny holes just as easily as through big
> ones.  Not only does one get (say) a 75% weight reduction, one also gets
> a 75% air-drag reduction.

Wouldn't holes "significantly smaller than a wavelength of light" also
be significantly smaller than air molecules?  Punching holes to reduce
weight sounds like a good idea, but I'm not convinced it would reduce
the drag any.

Showing my ignorance,
Philip Lantz
tektronix!bronze!philipl