Cosmos 1 We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars. - Carl Sagan For years the literary masters of science fiction have presented us with dazzling and fantastic ways to travel among the stars. Today, imagination leaps from the page with the launch of the first solar sail spacecraft. Watch and see if the Cosmos 1, a craft propelled by sunlight, will usher in a new era of space exploration for the here and now. Suggested Sites... Cosmos 1: Official Mission Tracking Site - mission control for the milestone spacecraft. Join them for the historic launch of this international, privately funded space mission. NASA Solar Sail Technology Development - investigate the potential of these elegant, gossamer structures that ride on the light from the sun. Solar Sails - learn about the design and function of these large, lightweight mirrors that can travel through space without traditional propellants. Beyond Rocketry - take a peek at the new technologies powering space travel to come: ion propulsion, solar sails, laser sails, and space tethers.

Directory categories: Solar Sails, Space Tethers, Space Elevators, Propulsion

Archived under: Science, Space, Technology, Transportation

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