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From: @S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:DIETZ@RUTGERS.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Starwisp
Message-ID: <2363@mordor.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Jun-85 18:17:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: mordor.2363
Posted: Fri Jun 21 18:17:34 1985
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From: DIETZ@RUTGERS.ARPA

I missed the beginning of the Interstellar probe discussion.  Did Forward's
Starwisp idea get mentioned?

Starwisp is a VERY lightweight cloud of thin metal wires.  Arranged at the
intersections of the wires are tiny electronic devices.  The wisp is powered
by microwaves from a source in the solar system.  It is accelerated by
microwave radiation pressure at about 100 gees(!);  acceleration is
limited (as in all radiation pressure systems) by heating of the sail.
It coasts, inactive, to the target system at a good fraction of c.  When it
reaches the target system a microwave beam from the solar system (greatly
spread out) illuminates it; information is transmitted back to Earth by
phase conjugating the microwave power signal.  The engineering challenges here
are severe, but relatively little power is needed (gigawatts for a gram-scale
wisp).
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