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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re:  Skyhooks, Tethers, and Kites.
Message-ID: <6277@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-Jan-86 16:41:37 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6277
Posted: Thu Jan  9 16:41:37 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jan-86 16:41:37 EST
References: <367@weitek.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 14
Keywords: solar wind, lightsails

> ...the gases evaporating off the sun and
> earth are way too thin for the purpose of a space kite.
> How about the light from the sun itself?  People
> have proposed using the light pressure to propel
> spacecaft.  Of course, I could be talking about a BIG
> kite...

You can do it with light, but your kite will be %$#$%@#* HUGE!
A lightsail ten kilometers across generates only a few pounds of thrust.
Holding up a realistic tether (one that will withstand storms in the
atmosphere, and carry a useful load) will need a truly enormous area.
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry