A recent study submitted to Acta Astronautica and currently available on the arXiv preprint server explores the potential for using aerographite solar sails for traveling to Mars and interstellar space, which could dramatically reduce both the time and fuel required for such missions.
  • Spzi@lemm.ee
    12·
    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
      6·
      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·
        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.

        • Dr. Bluefall@toast.oooEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          So I guess we’re back to the drawing board.

          Do we got those nuclear engines kicking around anywhere?