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Tom Kalbfus

Banned

Registered: 2006-08-16

Posts: 4,401

Re: Elastic Launch Loop (Space Elevator)

So the plasma blocks light. It would be hard to steer since the plasma would fill a 3-dimensional volume of space, a sheet of aluminum is very thin in one dimension, so light moving parallel to the plane of an aluminum sail would not be blocked at all, but a toroidal plasma sail would have a significant thickness, and light approaching the edge of it would still be blocked. This would be like sailing with a balloon, it would be good for going downwind with little ability to tack against the wind the way sheet sails can.

JoshNH4H

Member

From: Pullman, WA

Registered: 2007-07-15

Posts: 2,546

Website

Re: Elastic Launch Loop (Space Elevator)

No argument.   Good for going out and not much else.  I can't rule out the possibility that it could be made directional buti don't see how

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-Josh