Space yacht Ikaros ready to cast off for far side of the sun

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

Space yacht Ikaros ready to cast off for far side of the sun
Interplanetary cruise of Japan's solar-powered 'sail craft' aims at deeper knowledge of Venus
Justin McCurry in Tokyo guardian.co.uk,
Monday 17 May 2010 16.26 BST

Japan hopes to turn the wildest fantasies of science fiction into reality today with a "space yacht" that will draw on the power of the sun to take it to Venus and, perhaps, far beyond.

A Mitsubishi H-2A rocket carrying Ikaros (an acronym for Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun) is set to blast off from Tanegashima island in south-west Japan at 6.44am local time.

The long-awaited launch is seen as part of a mission that could change the course of interplanetary exploration.

If it is successful, Ikaros will be carried through deep space at high speed with the help of a 20-metre sail, propelled by the pressure from solar particles.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/17/space-yacht-ikaros-japan-venus

[Beetwasher]

1. Ikaros z (Icarus)???? That Didn't End Well, Did It?

n/t

[Hosnon]

3. It's definitely a strange name choice. That story doesn't end in Icarus' favor, haha. nt.

[Courtesy Flush]

7. They're flying to the dark side of the sun, so it's safe nt

[truthisfreedom]

9. You mean they're going at night.

[jimshoes]

2. We have better glue nowadays.

:)

[Unca Jim]

4. Great Name...

Just don't use any wax!

[mbperrin]

5. So Arthur C Clarke's 1964 idea is finally being done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunjammer

John Merton, a spaceship designer, develops and promotes a lightweight spacecraft with a large area of solar sail, to be powered entirely by radiation pressure — the so-called wind from the sun. The sun-yachts start their journey in Earth's orbit, and, pushed simply by sunlight, can achieve a speed of two thousand miles an hour within a day.

The concept leads to the development of the sport of sun-yacht racing, and after several years of refining his ideas, Merton competes in what will be his final race. His hopes for victory rest on the low mass of his craft which he has made possible through advances in automation enabling him to fly it solo.

[alfredo]

6. Maybe Major Tom is out there somewhere.

[flvegan]

8. Solar powered? Is it just me or does that sound brilliant?

It seems like one of those obvious ideas that I would have never thought of.

But then, I'm no rocket scientist.