Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site petrus.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!petrus!karn From: karn@petrus.UUCP Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Light Sail Deployment Message-ID: <297@petrus.UUCP> Date: Tue, 26-Feb-85 16:01:51 EST Article-I.D.: petrus.297 Posted: Tue Feb 26 16:01:51 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 28-Feb-85 12:52:32 EST References: <61@pbear.UUCP> Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc Lines: 7 Does anyone know just how high you have to be to construct a "high performance" solar sail? Aside from atmospheric drag (which makes your average space shuttle orbit useless) there is also a rather large gravity gradient at low altitudes which might rip a delicate sail. Phil