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Is it a sail or a drag parachute?
by wingo 16y ago
Is it a sail or a drag parachute?
- Femur 16y agoIt is a proper sail propelled by light pressure instead of wind. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Solar_sail https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Solar_sail
- dedward 16y ago"NanoSail-D will remain closer to home. "Our mission is to circle Earth and investigate the possibility of using solar sails as a tool to de-orbit old satellites and space junk," explains Alhorn. "As the sail orbits our planet, it skims the top of our atmosphere and experiences aerodynamic drag. Eventually, this brings it down."" Pretty clearly not a solar sail...
- 51Cards 16y ago"They'd also like to measure the pressure of sunlight on the sail, although atmospheric drag could overwhelm that effect." Dual purpose study.
- flatline 16y agoExcellent question, the article called it a solar sail but only mentioned its drag properties. I kept wondering why you would need a solar sail to keep something in orbit...?
- jpadvo 16y agoIt is a lightweight, inexpensive, spaceship-deployable sheet. Currently it is being used as a drag parachute, but it could just as easily be used as a sail. I think.