🚀 go-pugleaf

> 
> New one on me, but I have heard of the supposed race to the moon with solar 
> sails, to celebrate the 500 anniversary of Columbus, not sure if it 
> actually came about.. Maybe the olymbics will have a solar sale race or 
> some other organization will have a solar sail race.. 
> 
> ==
> ==
> Michael Adams alias Ghost Wheel/Morgoth NSMCA@acad3.alaska.edu

I know that there were some plans for an international "race" to Mars 
with Canada, the US, Russia, and some other countries that I don't 
remember.  The plan was to have each country make their own.
This way, the benefits of each design could be looked at.

Unfortunately, the project was canceled from what I have been told.
(I was talking to one of the NASA guys from sci.space.news about it.)
I seem to recall that the limiting factor that was mentioned was money.

Actually, using a solar sail to just go to the moon would be pointless as 
they are only practical over a distance.  Remember, they use the solar 
winds to carry them.  This means that they are going to take a long time 
to build up a decent velocity.  However, over a longer distance, they can 
be quite good.

Personally, I would like to see the use of solar sails catch on as a 
method of travel.

If nothing else, it would be another case of sci-fi become fact.

victor@inqmind.bison.mb.ca
The Inquiring Mind BBS, Winnipeg, Manitoba  204 488-1607