Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mordor.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!cord!ihnp1!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!mordor!space@mit-mc From: space@mit-mc Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Momentum transfer in light sails Message-ID: <794@mordor.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Mar-85 17:52:23 EST Article-I.D.: mordor.794 Posted: Fri Mar 1 17:52:23 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 04:26:18 EST Sender: daemon@mordor.UUCP Lines: 9 From: bsuper%ucbtopaz.CC@Berkeley After reading Rick McGeers' description of momentum transfer between photons and a light sail, it seems to me that all momentum imparted to the sail must be radial to the sun. Is there any way to impart momentum to the sail in a tangential direction?