Thread: Solar Sails Rock!

For Starships that is,

1. They require NO FUEL. They rely on sunlight, (which available everywhere in the galaxy from stars,.

2. You could carry a little fuel just in case, But you wouldn't need a lot.

3. You would have to have a small, low mass ship to get it up to speed faster.

4. However, if you decide to go the science fiction route you can really amp them up.

5. Solar sails look more exotic, more space age to me than rocket ships do. Rocket ships are born of necessity to get out of Earth's atmosphere. Solar sails are designed solar for their environment. So they seem very suited for science fiction space ships.

6. Sure, it may not be WW2 in space anymore, but I don't mind. Solar starships would look cooler than the rocket ones anyway, which have become cliche in fiction.

Originally Posted by lorbo

For Starships that is,

1. They require NO FUEL. They rely on sunlight, (which available everywhere in the galaxy from stars,.

2. You could carry a little fuel just in case, But you wouldn't need a lot.

3. You would have to have a small, low mass ship to get it up to speed faster.

4. However, if you decide to go the science fiction route you can really amp them up.

5. Solar sails look more exotic, more space age to me than rocket ships do. Rocket ships are born of necessity to get out of Earth's atmosphere. Solar sails are designed solar for their environment. So they seem very suited for science fiction space ships.

6. Sure, it may not be WW2 in space anymore, but I don't mind. Solar starships would look cooler than the rocket ones anyway, which have become cliche in fiction.

*taps pipe and closes book* . I agree. I think we should start with tall ships experientially navigating the Cosmos using the solar winds before we turn to less romantic forms of simply getting from Point A to B in a jetski (thinks Bussard Ramjet). For example, we should ask what would Drake or Nelson have done? *stokes hearth, adjusts monocle and returns to book* :-))

Originally Posted by Implicate Order

Originally Posted by lorbo

For Starships that is,

1. They require NO FUEL. They rely on sunlight, (which available everywhere in the galaxy from stars,.

2. You could carry a little fuel just in case, But you wouldn't need a lot.

3. You would have to have a small, low mass ship to get it up to speed faster.

4. However, if you decide to go the science fiction route you can really amp them up.

5. Solar sails look more exotic, more space age to me than rocket ships do. Rocket ships are born of necessity to get out of Earth's atmosphere. Solar sails are designed solar for their environment. So they seem very suited for science fiction space ships.

6. Sure, it may not be WW2 in space anymore, but I don't mind. Solar starships would look cooler than the rocket ones anyway, which have become cliche in fiction.

*taps pipe and closes book* . I agree. I think we should start with tall ships experientially navigating the Cosmos using the solar winds before we turn to less romantic forms of simply getting from Point A to B in a jetski (thinks Bussard Ramjet). For example, we should ask what would Drake or Nelson have done? *stokes hearth, adjusts monocle and returns to book* :-))

Yes. This would take the 'space is an ocean trope' and put it to good use for once rather than making stuff up.

Oh sure, you'd have to make some stuff up if you want an uber starship. But it would still be cooler than the rocket types.

My idea:

Laser Sail Spaceship: For sublight travel, it uses a massive square sail at the front that is propelled by low powered lasers.

The sail is wider than the ship, which holds a thousand people and is long.

Normally a Sail ship would have issues getting up to speed with such mass. But I sci-fied it so:

A way has been found to increase the radiation pressure of light, thereby increasing the propulsion thrust of solar sails. And that is done without burning them.

Power sources: Solar panels and a fictional type of metal that can be charged with infinite amounts of electricity. They make great batteries.

...and light sabers please to repel boarders. Better to look the beggars in the eye when dispatching them / tic :-))

Originally Posted by Implicate Order

...and light sabers please to repel boarders. Better to look the beggars in the eye when dispatching them / tic :-))

I like your style. But what if they have guns?

Actually, what your saying would work in-universe. Nobody comes boards a starship with the intention of putting holes in it. They want it intact to loot it. So yeah. strangely enough, light sabers would be more practical than firearms for once!

The problem Is that the suns rays don't reach out very far in our own solar system making "sailing" very difficult if not impossible. The solar winds also dissipate very quickly so they won't be of much help after a certain distance.

Originally Posted by lorbo

Originally Posted by Implicate Order

...and light sabers please to repel boarders. Better to look the beggars in the eye when dispatching them / tic :-))

I like your style. But what if they have guns?

*puffs pipe and ponders*. Recoil lad, recoil........*thinks some more* .......Up the guts with lot's of smoke. That's what my boys would have done. Cucumber sandwiches anyone? /tic

Originally Posted by quanquequi

Did we, er, ever get that barrel of rum back to the old broadside?

Who is that......come forth man.........Beatty is that you?........Rum.....what Rum.......*hic*.....the last time I had rum was when I received that flesh wound at Santa Cruz.........*lapses back into coma*

You are one persistent nutjob. How many banned sockpuppets have you made?

ETA the post this was directed at has been removed

Originally Posted by PhDemon

You are one persistent nutjob. How many banned sockpuppets have you made?

ETA the post this was directed at has been removed

Be careful with your thoughts because they will become words.

Be careful with your words because they will become actions

Be careful with your actions because they will become habits

Be careful with your habits because they will decide your character

Be careful with your character because it WILL decide your destiny

Wanna know where your character will take you? No place good.

You needn't worry about me, your hurting yourself far more than me. But you would never admit it, nor realize it, until it's too late.

What are you on about, my post wasn't directed at you. It's interesting you are so defensive, maybe you know but won't admit it that most of your posts are nonsense. I have no problem with this thread, however, as it is in the appropriate forum for your fictional fantasies.

Gentlemen please. Let's take this outside while the ladies have their tea.

*later*

Now, what are your choices, foils, epee's, sabers.....or perhaps these blunderbusses appeal....or is it banjos? :-))

Originally Posted by PhDemon

What are you on about, my post wasn't directed at you. It's interesting you are so defensive, maybe you know but won't admit it that most of your posts are nonsense. I have no problem with this thread, however, as it is in the appropriate forum for your fictional fantasies.

It still applies.

This internet is full of those who are so bold online, simply because it's not in person. As if manners and etiquette mean nothing now because you can get away with it so easily!?

Well... you won't.

And as I said, don't mind me. I'm not the one you should worry about.

I'd say the same things I post here to your (or anyones) face, ask any of my students when they say something stupid, and being polite to trolling sockpuppets (who my post was actually addressed to before your reading skills kicked in) is not high on my agenda. I don't worry about you at all so that's ok. I'll leave you to play make believe.

sails want a keel (or daggerboard) unless you only want to sail down wind
How does one create a starship keel------(something to do with mass and gravity?)

Then out in intergalactic space, intersolar or intergalactic doldrums?
The concept is grand, and oh so romantic. The implementation, however may need some careful reasoning.

Originally Posted by sculptor

sails want a keel (or daggerboard) unless you only want to sail down wind
How does one create a starship keel------(something to do with mass and gravity?)

Then out in intergalactic space, intersolar or intergalactic doldrums?
The concept is grand, and oh so romantic. The implementation, however may need some careful reasoning.

the only keel I can imagine to this dynamic would be simply the maintenance of contact with the origin of the launch acceleration. a fletch cannot drop beyond it's weighted delivery....

"Cast out the light anchor!" Then - click - a filament of laser light projects from the racing ship, and drags it down to light speed.

Originally Posted by Pong

"Cast out the light anchor!" Then - click - a filament of laser light projects from the racing ship, and drags it down to light speed.

Nice. I'm with you Admiral :-))

Originally Posted by ghastlePrienna

Originally Posted by Implicate Order

Originally Posted by Pong

"Cast out the light anchor!" Then - click - a filament of laser light projects from the racing ship, and drags it down to light speed.

Nice. I'm with you Admiral :-))

Kindly observe his proper title of Royal Admiral in the Rear!

My apologies commodore.....*swats Cassiopeian midge *......Baines, please send that native down into the hold. It is most disconcerting. http://resource.mmgn.com/Games/Packs...s-Aliens-1.jpg :-))