Kickstarter of the Week: LunarSail

"There will some day appear velocities far greater, of which light or electricity will probably be the mechanical agent."

Those words were written almost 150 years ago in Jules Verne?s From the Earth to the Moon?just another moment when science fiction predicts science fact. Although it didn?t have a name at the time, Verne unknowingly described solar sails, a mode of space propulsion that is now a reality.

Solar sailing is only one of a few alternative propulsion options, but NASA and other international space agencies have been developing solar sails for years. Now, the relatively new technology explores a new frontier: Kickstarter.

LunarSail is the first crowdfunded solar sail, and the project also has ambitious plans to be reach the moon?s orbit. Matthew Travis, the project?s creator, details on Kickstarter that he hopes the space mission will "demonstrate practical application for solar sail technology for propulsion."

The team has assembled the spacecraft?s primary computer system and is developing the command and control software. They admit that the biggest obstacle will be obtaining the solar sail itself, but hope for cooperation with NASA and outside manufacturers. Right now, the mission has considerable lead time, with the project not reaching flight ready status until 2016. Compared to other space exploration missions, though, two and a half years could be a considered a rush job.

The LunarSail team is also inviting fans to submit messages, artwork, music and video clips, which the satellite will transmit back to earth once it reaches its Lunar destination.

The project has currently reached 20 percent of its $11,000 goal with 51 days left, and as of Friday, 74 people believe in the idea of fuel-less space exploration. In another time, Jules Verne would be among them.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/kickstarter-of-the-week-lunarsail-15687754?src=rss

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