Solar sails could reach Mars in just 26 days (phys.org)

submitted 1 year ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/space@beehaw.org

15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Spzi@lemm.ee 12 points 1 year ago

Also

The researchers note that one major question of using solar sails is deceleration, or slowing down, upon arriving at the destination, specifically Mars, and while they mention aerocapture as one solution, they admit this still requires further study.

[-] IndefiniteBen@leminal.space 6 points 1 year ago

Sounds like it's probably best to work out all these issues with small payloads before scaling up to human transport.

[-] Fermion@feddit.nl 8 points 1 year ago

It can't really be scaled up to human carrying capacity. The density of solar wind is very sparce. Any sail large enough to accelerate a human habitat would itself become too heavy.