Program
11, Episode 301
Behind
the Scenes
 Throughout
our early history, the need for
exploration shaped the understanding
of our world. The vehicle of
choice most early explores used
was a ship with sails. However,
because these ships depended
on wind pushing against the sails
for forward motion they were
generally very slow and dangerous.
The idea of using sails today
as a viable transportation method
is limited. With
the multitude of ways that
humans now possess to travel,
the sail has been relegated
to recreational status, rather
than a serious tool for exploration,
or transportation.
But a new idea may change
the way we think about sails.
NASA researchers are actually
developing a new type of sail
that will use the sun's light
to propel spacecraft deep into
space. These solar sails are
so promising that some day
they may replace slower more
costly propulsion system for
deep space exploration.
Additional Information
http://solarsails.jpl.nasa.gov/links.html |
