Post by Susieg on Jun 20, 2005 17:46:27 GMT
When Cosmos 1, the first solar sail spacecraft, launches on June 21,
2005, it will carry into Earth orbit a CD containing the names of over
75,000 members of The Planetary Society and the Japan Planetary
Society, along with the works of early visionaries who inspired solar
sailing.
Cosmos 1 is a project of The Planetary Society and
Cosmos Studios. Built in Russia, it will launch atop a converted ICBM
from a submerged Russian submarine in the Barents Sea. Data obtained
during the flight of Cosmos 1 will assist the world space community in
analyzing and developing future solar sail technologies, such as those
presaged on the CD in an historic essay by F.A. Tsander and a science
fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke. See the full CD contents at
www.planetary.org/solarsailcd/.
Cosmos 1will be the first mission to test the concept of sailing on
light, using the pressure of photons to propel it through space.
Reflected light pressure will push against eight giant reflective
blades, designed to adjust to the continuously changing orbital energy
and spacecraft velocity.
Ann Druyan, CEO of Cosmos Studios and Cosmos 1 Project Manager, and
Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society and Cosmos
1 Project Director, both have messages on the CD.
Druyan's message says in part, "Our ancestors devised a means to ride
the winds across the high seas…The names of these ancient
explorers
are lost to us. Today we honor their courage and genius with this
first flight of Cosmos 1."
The spacecraft was built by the Lavochkin Association and the Space
Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Russia.
These space organizations are also investing in mission infrastructure
to advance their own space-sailing ambitions. The Russians have built
a new, lightweight spacecraft and utilized a low-cost launch system in
a bid to develop a new series of scientific spacecraft.
"Solar sailing is the pathway to the stars - the only technology known
today leading to interstellar flight," said Friedman on the CD.
Solar Sail Watch, a program designed for the general public, will
invite people around the world to lend their help in tracking Cosmos 1
and photographing its progress across the night sky. Once its sails
unfurl, Cosmos 1 will be bright enough to be easily visible to the
naked eye. The Planetary Society and Cosmos Studios urge everyone to
witness this historic mission first hand. Visit
planetary.org/solarsail/watch for more details.
2005, it will carry into Earth orbit a CD containing the names of over
75,000 members of The Planetary Society and the Japan Planetary
Society, along with the works of early visionaries who inspired solar
sailing.
Cosmos 1 is a project of The Planetary Society and
Cosmos Studios. Built in Russia, it will launch atop a converted ICBM
from a submerged Russian submarine in the Barents Sea. Data obtained
during the flight of Cosmos 1 will assist the world space community in
analyzing and developing future solar sail technologies, such as those
presaged on the CD in an historic essay by F.A. Tsander and a science
fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke. See the full CD contents at
www.planetary.org/solarsailcd/.
Cosmos 1will be the first mission to test the concept of sailing on
light, using the pressure of photons to propel it through space.
Reflected light pressure will push against eight giant reflective
blades, designed to adjust to the continuously changing orbital energy
and spacecraft velocity.
Ann Druyan, CEO of Cosmos Studios and Cosmos 1 Project Manager, and
Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society and Cosmos
1 Project Director, both have messages on the CD.
Druyan's message says in part, "Our ancestors devised a means to ride
the winds across the high seas…The names of these ancient
explorers
are lost to us. Today we honor their courage and genius with this
first flight of Cosmos 1."
The spacecraft was built by the Lavochkin Association and the Space
Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Russia.
These space organizations are also investing in mission infrastructure
to advance their own space-sailing ambitions. The Russians have built
a new, lightweight spacecraft and utilized a low-cost launch system in
a bid to develop a new series of scientific spacecraft.
"Solar sailing is the pathway to the stars - the only technology known
today leading to interstellar flight," said Friedman on the CD.
Solar Sail Watch, a program designed for the general public, will
invite people around the world to lend their help in tracking Cosmos 1
and photographing its progress across the night sky. Once its sails
unfurl, Cosmos 1 will be bright enough to be easily visible to the
naked eye. The Planetary Society and Cosmos Studios urge everyone to
witness this historic mission first hand. Visit
planetary.org/solarsail/watch for more details.
