itsfullofstars: EU-Backed ‘Electric Sail’ Could Be the Fastest Man-Made Device Ever Built The EU is funding a three-year project at the Finnish Meteorological Institute to build the fastest man-made device in the universe: an electric sail, or ESAIL, that researchers say could make Pluto in just five years’ time. (…) The ESAIL is propelled by solar radiation and therefore requires no chemical or ion propellant. But rather than actually unfurling a huge membranous sail to catch photons from the sun to provide thrust, the ESAIL repels protons. Read more.

itsfullofstars:

EU-Backed ‘Electric Sail’ Could Be the Fastest Man-Made Device Ever Built

The EU is funding a three-year project at the Finnish Meteorological Institute to build the fastest man-made device in the universe: an electric sail, or ESAIL, that researchers say could make Pluto in just five years’ time.

(…) The ESAIL is propelled by solar radiation and therefore requires no chemical or ion propellant. But rather than actually unfurling a huge membranous sail to catch photons from the sun to provide thrust, the ESAIL repels protons.

Read more.

Reblogged 1 year ago from itsfullofstars
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  17. eressea reblogged this from itsfullofstars and added:
    And it looks pretty darn cool
  18. marimbeast reblogged this from itsfullofstars and added:
    coolest thing I’ve heard all day. Wow.
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  21. dallastar reblogged this from itsfullofstars and added:
    SOLAR RADIATION?? I have a few questions. How much is all of this costing tax payers? What do we need this for & how...

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