🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Sep27.151420.6690@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> tes@nomad.jsc.nasa.gov (Thomas E. Smith [LORAL]) writes:

> [L]et's ignite Venus's atmosphere on the opposite
>side that it moves in its orbit, and use the escaping air as propultion. We
>kill two birds with one stone :)  (note: this should be done over a large
>surface area to reduce geological turmoil.)

The trouble with this idea is that combustion doesn't usually produce a
net thrust.  You need a way to direct the combustion products in the
same general direction.  A continent-sized bell nozzle seems a bit
infeasible.  An additional difficulty is that Venus' atmosphere won't
"burn" unless you introduce some pretty exotic chemicals in truly
impressive quantities.

My ground-based lasers would get you a net thrust, albeit a small,
inefficient one.  But we've got several centuries before we can 
change the atmosphere, anyway.  Lasers are patient.  We can wait.

Does anybody know what frequency would best penetrate Venus'
atmosphere?  It doesn't have to be in the visual spectrum.

-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
      kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov  (713) 483-4368

     "NASA turns dreams into realities and makes science fiction
      into fact" -- Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator