Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!intelca!qantel!dual!ames!al From: al@ames.UUCP (Al Globus) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Light Sails Message-ID: <821@ames.UUCP> Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 13:33:59 EST Article-I.D.: ames.821 Posted: Thu Feb 28 13:33:59 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 08:15:26 EST References: <595@mordor.UUCP> <129@uwvax.UUCP> Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA Lines: 9 > I is only an ameteur, so bear with me. > > I am under the impression that a Light Sail would get its propulsion from > the solar wind, a stream of protons and neutrons that are expelled from > the sun constantly (and cause the Aurora Borealis, I think). It seems to > me that the "light pressure" from photons would be insufficient for any > substantial thrust. Yer wrong. Thrust is from reflecting photons.