Solar Sailing

NASA’s NanoSail-D has its sails fully deployed and is now in orbit around the Earth. Amateur astronomers have been challenged by NASA and SpaceWeather.com to capture the best photo of NanoSail-D.
I am certain at some point I will try to run outside and catch a glimpse of the bright point of light as it whisks across the sky. But mostly I am amazed at the technology. The APOD discussion for today reminded me that Kepler first speculated on using the solar wind. Since that time science fiction has been populated with marvelous sailed spacecraft. And here we are, a successful test, small but successful showing that sails can be deployed and can gather photons to power the spacecraft. The online information I read from NASA said that they think that solar sailing is the “only reasonable way to make interstellar travel a reality.” My mind is full of questions, but for now I will simply allow myself to be amazed.


Footnote: My amazement should have started in June, when the Japanese solar sail spacecraft Ikaros successfully deployed its sails. That spacecraft is headed around the sun. I am surprised to hear that NASA, as well as a British team, is looking into deploying solar sail spacecraft in order to help remove (deorbit) old satellites. Hmmm, there goes the romance.