Solar

Solar Thermal Rocket (STR)

Solar Thermal Rocket (STR)

Ultimately, the unsolved problem of radioactive fallout killed ORION for good. Any ORION launch would have led to public protests, and the Atmospheric Test-Ban Treaty, signed in August 1963, basically made an ORION launch illegal. ORION was finally canned for good in December 1965. It remains an interesting footnote to a time when people...

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Solar Propulsion

Solar Propulsion Interplanetary Solar Sails A solar sail is a spacecraft that has an immense, lightweight mirror attached to it. It derives its propulsion by being pushed by light reflecting off of the mirror, instead of traditional rocket engines. The light used could be supplied by sunlight or lasers placed in orbit. Sunlight exerts...

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