Post by Chicago Astronomer Joe on Nov 16, 2004 5:20:12 GMT -6
Cosmos 1
Now here's an ambitious and great mission to the stars. Cosmos 1 will be pushed away from earth by the Solar wind in this first type of mission ever launched.
Here are some of the Specs of the spacecraft and mission:
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A solar sail is a spacecraft without an engine - it is pushed along directly by light particles from the Sun, reflecting off giant mirror-like sails. Because it carries no fuel and keeps accelerating over almost unlimited distances, it is the only technology now in existence that can one day take us to the stars.
Cosmos 1 has 8 triangular sails, each 15 meters (50 feet) in length, configured around the spacecraft's body at the center. The sails will be deployed by inflatable tubes once the spacecraft is in orbit.
The spacecraft will be launched from a submerged Russian submarine in the Barents Sea. It will be carried into orbit on board a Volna rocket - a converted ICBM left over from the old Soviet arsenal.
Cosmos 1 will orbit the Earth at an altitude of over 800 kilometers. It will gradually raise its orbit by solar sailing -- the pressure of light particles from the Sun upon its luminous sails.
The Spacecraft is being built in Russia by NPO Lavochkin under contract to The Planetary Society. Cosmos Studios is the project's sole sponsor.
The mission will demonstrate the feasibility of Solar Sail flight, opening the way to interplanetary travel and someday - sailing to the stars.
Cosmos 1 will be the first Space mission ever flown by a non-governmental advocacy group!
Cosmos 1 has 8 triangular sails, each 15 meters (50 feet) in length, configured around the spacecraft's body at the center. The sails will be deployed by inflatable tubes once the spacecraft is in orbit.
The spacecraft will be launched from a submerged Russian submarine in the Barents Sea. It will be carried into orbit on board a Volna rocket - a converted ICBM left over from the old Soviet arsenal.
Cosmos 1 will orbit the Earth at an altitude of over 800 kilometers. It will gradually raise its orbit by solar sailing -- the pressure of light particles from the Sun upon its luminous sails.
The Spacecraft is being built in Russia by NPO Lavochkin under contract to The Planetary Society. Cosmos Studios is the project's sole sponsor.
The mission will demonstrate the feasibility of Solar Sail flight, opening the way to interplanetary travel and someday - sailing to the stars.
Cosmos 1 will be the first Space mission ever flown by a non-governmental advocacy group!
More here from the Planetary Society: www.planetary.org/solarsail/
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NASA should be ashamed of itself, by gosh...the Russians are building it! O'keefe has got to go, I'm telling all of you, the grit and muscle of NASA is long gone, and we are just going to be left behind.
God speed to the Cosmos Spacecraft, The Russian's and to the Planetary Society for undertaking a great project.
I'll have the Vodka and Bosch now.