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Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amd!dual!mordor!space@mit-mc
From: space@mit-mc
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Light Sails
Message-ID: <722@mordor.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Feb-85 19:32:02 EST
Article-I.D.: mordor.722
Posted: Mon Feb 25 19:32:02 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 10:02:24 EST
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Organization: S-1 Project, LLNL
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From: Lynn.es@XEROX.ARPA

In the talks I have heard on solar sails by the experts, it was stated
that the pressure of sunlight is in the range of a thousand to a million
times that of solar wind particles.  They speak of mylar lasting a few
months, and something more resistant to space (Kapton, or something like
that) lasting for a few years.  They also state that it is impractical
to sail beyond Mars or Jupiter because of diminished sunlight.  There
are thoughts on beaming light at a sail to overcome this, but that is
another story.
/Don Lynn