[Interview+] Getting To Mercury with NO Propellant
Solar sails aren't only good for getting to Mars and beyond. In fact, they can be more efficient when going towards the Sun. This new mission concept even suggests going to Mercury using a solar sail, providing the best observations of the planet we have ever had.
Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F1x4iwBxg-0
Comments (4)
Still a bit not convinced - won’t an inclined sail just turn the craft? Sailboats keep alignment thanks to their hull shape and other features, and sailors use tiller to counteract the turning momenta. These are not gonna work for a spacecraft 🤷🏽♂️
You and guest touched on magnetic fields from Mercury, but I didn't hear whether the proposed mission will include a magnetometer. Seems like a natural fit. Comment?
Solar sails have been a SiFi trope for ages! Why are they taking so long to become reality? Do they actually work? His and your points about multi-mission use makes so much sense, I don't understand why more effort is not going into their development.
An absolutely fascinating interview. Solar sails to Mercury could provide a mission whose longevity is only governed by how long the electronics and associated solar power system could last in those heat cycles.