To Touch The Sun
The test of a solar sail spacecraft became a failure when the craft did not separate from it's booster housing. The test was only to see how separation and sail initialization would work, though part two was never to be. The two small, twin sails were to unfurl to full length during the short suborbital flight, and then burn up with the rest of the craft upon reentry. With the non-profit Planetary Society footing the $5 million bill for the entire set of launches, there is some doubt as to the short-term future of this project. Many Society members remain hopeful, however, that the full-sized craft will be launched in 2002. What makes solar sail technology so special is that it uses the push of photons on the giant sails to move through space, albeit in a single direction at the moment. If launched within a few years, a probe using solar sails could beat the Voyager spacecraft (which were launched in the 70's) out of the solar system. That means a solar sail craft could reach speeds of up to 10 times that of normal chemical rocket powered probes. However, the usefulness of solar sail probes is in doubt already, since it is now known that there exists outside of the solar system a boundary where photons from our system cancels out those from other systems. At this point, if the sails were not closed down, the craft would come to a halt in interstellar space; not a good place for future space travellers to be. Perhaps the sails could be moved and manipulated like old ocean-going ships; in this way, the craft could steer, and be practical for in-system travel. As with so many other things, time will tell.
Of perhaps even greater short-term consequence is the very public issue of stem-cell research funding. While the scientific possibilities of this type of research could open up many medical cures for different syndromes and diseases, there are many religious and social organizations vehemently opposed to this because of the fact that the primary source of stem-cells are week-old human embryos. Pro-research factions make the point that the cells would be obtained from embryos in stored fertility clinic freezers, which would never be used and subsequently be throw out. Also pointed out is that another relatively good source of stem-cells is female breast tissue. Anti-research groups continue to oppose any and all research, however. At this point, it is up to the government and President Bush whether to give the go ahead for funding. It is very possible that the funding will be made available (there is great support for it in Congress), even in light of the fact that Bush and Congress pass a law banning human cloning. It is expected that a decision will be made in the upcoming months.
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The test of a solar sail spacecraft became a failure when the craft did not separate from it's booster housing. The test was only to see how separation and sail initialization would work, though part two was never to be. The two small, twin sails were to unfurl to full length during the short suborbital flight, and then burn up with the rest of the craft upon reentry. With the non-profit Planetary Society footing the $5 million bill for the entire set of launches, there is some doubt as to the short-term future of this project. Many Society members remain hopeful, however, that the full-sized craft will be launched in 2002. What makes solar sail technology so special is that it uses the push of photons on the giant sails to move through space, albeit in a single direction at the moment. If launched within a few years, a probe using solar sails could beat the Voyager spacecraft (which were launched in the 70's) out of the solar system. That means a solar sail craft could reach speeds of up to 10 times that of normal chemical rocket powered probes. However, the usefulness of solar sail probes is in doubt already, since it is now known that there exists outside of the solar system a boundary where photons from our system cancels out those from other systems. At this point, if the sails were not closed down, the craft would come to a halt in interstellar space; not a good place for future space travellers to be. Perhaps the sails could be moved and manipulated like old ocean-going ships; in this way, the craft could steer, and be practical for in-system travel. As with so many other things, time will tell.
Of perhaps even greater short-term consequence is the very public issue of stem-cell research funding. While the scientific possibilities of this type of research could open up many medical cures for different syndromes and diseases, there are many religious and social organizations vehemently opposed to this because of the fact that the primary source of stem-cells are week-old human embryos. Pro-research factions make the point that the cells would be obtained from embryos in stored fertility clinic freezers, which would never be used and subsequently be throw out. Also pointed out is that another relatively good source of stem-cells is female breast tissue. Anti-research groups continue to oppose any and all research, however. At this point, it is up to the government and President Bush whether to give the go ahead for funding. It is very possible that the funding will be made available (there is great support for it in Congress), even in light of the fact that Bush and Congress pass a law banning human cloning. It is expected that a decision will be made in the upcoming months.
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posted by Benjamin Hunt at
8/09/2001 11:38:00 PM
