NASA to launch solar sail, navigate space using sunlight

UPI ^ | April 22, 2024 | Sheri Walsh

[Yo-Yo]

I would think as I travelled far from the sun, the light energy would decrease until it effectively stopped.

It's the Inverse Square Law.

Sunlight decreases at a rate of the square of the distance.

[NorthMountain]

I would think as I travelled far from the sun, the light energy would decrease until it effectivelly stopped.

Indeed. The inverse-square rule takes no prisoners. That's why spacecraft venturing beyond Mars use RTGs rather than solar cells for power.

[NorthMountain]

Recall that the area of a sphere is computed:

A = 4*pi*R²

The energy emitted by a point source (sufficiently far away, a star may be considered a point source) is spread out over a spherical area. This gives rise to the inverse-square rule.

[Pocketdoor]

I just saw this on youtube today. Its called a uranium cloud chamber. It shows the radiation particles coming off of uranium ore.
Its just a short 10 sec video.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_yXwjWaZBmQ
I’ve always thought that since a laser shoot particals and has no recoil that they could be used as an engine to push a sail. Like in sci fi.

[teeman8r]

they are trying to block the sun.

oh noes, we are doomed.

[teeman8r]

which one was zod again? the chick?

[RckyRaCoCo]

No

(I would have knelt before the chick)

It's the non-goon looking male.

[Vaduz]

But but what if solar sail gets tangled up in that 10 foot or so mile rope NASA lost that broke lose from a capsule years ago?.

[markman46]

no UPI it will be propeled by the solar wind...

[markman46]

not the same thing, those are tiny solar panels

[markman46]

thanks for that correction, I though they were tiny solar panels

[P.O.E.]

Sail on, Sailor

One of my all-time fave Beach Boys tunes.

[NorthMountain]

I see on Ewetewb that they had a successful launch. Bravo, Rocket Lab!

[ZULU]

TAKE BIDEN AND GORE AND KERRY WITH YOU!