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ERRORIST

Member

From: OXFORD ALABAMA

Registered: 2004-01-28

Posts: 1,182

Re: Solar particle beam.

Is should be possible to convert magnified solar light energy to a focal point, and then convert that focal point to a particle beam for propulsion. Any thoughts out there?

GCNRevenger

Member

From: Earth

Registered: 2003-10-14

Posts: 6,056

Re: Solar particle beam.

A particle beam wouldn't be all that efficent... though the idea of focusing sunlight near the Sun for a solar thermal or solar electric rocket is kinda novel...

Not too sure how you would point or focus the thing out to the distances needed though, or how to counter the light pressure on a big focusing mirror.

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[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]

[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]

Euler

Member

From: Corvallis, OR

Registered: 2003-02-06

Posts: 922

Re: Solar particle beam.

That sounds like a solar thermal rocket.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_rocket]wikipedia

[http://www.islandone.org/APC/Beamed/03.html]islandone

[http://www.bmpcoe.org/bestpractices/ext … am_33.html]Marshal Space Flight Center

[http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/tmsb/second … c_sse.html]Glenn Research Center

[http://www.xs4all.nl/~carlkop/sotv.html]Air Force