Imagining the Future we transform the Present



Imagine a rocket launching a capsule to the Earth orbit. Imagine the capsule positioning the ship. Imagine great sails starting to unfold. Imagine the solar particles inflating the sails. Imagine the ship begin moving. Imagine it going faster as it receives more particles, and faster, and faster, faster.with no engine at all, faster.adding more speed at every minuteCan you imagine all that?





Not crazyImagine an ex-nuclear weapon launching this starship from a nuclear submarine, imagine using all this weapons for science purpose.

Ok, lets stop imagine. What would you think if I tell you all this mostly happened?
On June 21, 2005, Cosmos 1 (that was the name of the Solar Sail) was launched as planned from the submarine Borisoglebsk of the Russian Northern Fleet (in the Barents Sea). Unfortunately, the first stage of the Volna never completed its scheduled burn, and the spacecraft did not enter orbit. Cosmos 1, the first solar sail never had a chance to test its revolutionary technology.

Mostly I saidanyway, the Solar Sail Ship exists, and the people who designed it, The Planetary Society said they will try againwith another rocket.

More Info:
Official Site of Cosmos 1 . Beatifull
More Details
Video & Animations (I recommend the last one. 6.8MB / 3D .exe / Windows only, download & execute. See picture):



Attachments
407079-SolarSail.kmz (16519 downloads)
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Edited by Gerardo64 (06/01/06 11:27 AM)