Tuesday, August 10, 2004

The Japanese successfully launched and deployed a Solar Sail recently! This is a great first step towards unmanned exploration with little to no major fuel loads and engine weight. The research modules no longer need large engines to move about once we get sails working. Of course, they usually only work when moving AWAY from the sun, and the sail itself blocks the target, but they will work all that out. It's just cool that this was science fiction and now very nearly reality!