The reality of sunlight-based sailing in space began in May 2010, and solar sail technology and science have continued to evolve rapidly through new space missions. Using the power of the Sun's light for regular travel propulsion will be the next major leap forward in our journey to other worlds. This book is the second edition of the fascinating explanation of solar sails, how they work and how they will be used in the exploration of space. Updated with 35% new material, this second edition includes three new chapters on missions operated by Japan and the US, as well as projects that are in progress. The remainder of the book describes the heritage of exploration in water-borne sailing ships and the evolution to space-vehicle propulsion; as well as nuclear, solar-electric, nuclear-electric and antimatter rocket devices. It also discusses various sail systems that may use either sunlight or solar wind, and the design, fabrication and steering challenges associated with solar sails. The first edition was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and deemed “a title that needs to be on your shelf if you’re seriously interested in the next step as we move beyond rocketry" (Centauri Dreams, September 2008). Written with a mixed approach, this book appeals to both the general public as well as those with a more scientifically technical background.
Author(s): Giovanni Vulpetti, Les Johnson, Gregory L. Matloff (auth.)
Series: Springer Praxis Books - Space Exploration
Edition: 2
Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York
Year: 2015
Language: English
Pages: 277
Tags: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Optics and Electrodynamics; Energy Systems
Front Matter....Pages i-xxiv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
An Historical Introduction to Space Propulsion....Pages 3-12
The Rocket: How It Works in Space....Pages 13-21
Rocket Problems and Limitations....Pages 23-34
Non-Rocket In-Space Propulsion....Pages 35-44
The Solar Sail Option: From the Oceans to Space....Pages 45-58
Front Matter....Pages 59-59
Principles of Space Sailing....Pages 61-66
What Is a Space Sailcraft?....Pages 67-72
Sails Versus Rockets....Pages 73-81
Exploring and Developing Space by Sailcraft....Pages 83-101
Riding a Beam of Light....Pages 103-109
Front Matter....Pages 111-111
Designing a Solar Sail....Pages 113-126
Building a Sailcraft....Pages 127-141
Progress to Date....Pages 143-153
Future Plans....Pages 155-162
Front Matter....Pages 163-163
The JAXA IKAROS Mission as a Technological Breakthrough....Pages 165-171
The NanoSAIL-D2 NASA Mission....Pages 173-178
New Projects in Progress....Pages 179-186
Front Matter....Pages 187-187
Space Sources of Light....Pages 189-203
Modeling Thrust from Electromagnetic Radiation Pressure....Pages 205-221
Sailcraft Trajectories....Pages 223-245
Front Matter....Pages 187-187
Sails in the Space Environment....Pages 247-259
Back Matter....Pages 261-277
