'Lightfoil' idea shows light can provide lift

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11927793

N.

 

[Rtyh-12]

Well...is it really a new thing? Even Orbiter has that.

If I'm not missing something...

 

[Notebook]

Its new to me at least. I thought of solar sails as like a kite, just a simple plane surface that responds to pressure.

They discovered not only that the rods experienced "lift", but that there were several angles that the rod tended to align itself to.

"The surprising thing from our model shows it has different positions of rotational equilibrium, so it will roll to a given position, stay there, and continue to undergo lift," Dr Swarzlander said.

As I read the article, something different is happening?

N.

 

[Fizyk]

Its new to me at least. I thought of solar sails as like a kite, just a simple plane surface that responds to pressure.

Solar sails do work like that. The thing described in the article is more like a solar wing. It is new to me too. Very nice idea, I must say

 

[Notebook]

One of those things that makes you wonder why it hasn't been tried before? Probably has, but maybe just put aside as a curiosity.
Sounds like fun shining lasers through floating glass rods, and seeing if they fly...They can't get paid for it?

N.

 

[jedidia]

So... does that mean that we could use a lightsail very similiar to an actual sail (Which work more or less like airfoils)? That would improve maneuverability quite a bit, since you could almost go straight "against the wind" if the need arises...

 

[Notebook]

Thats how I read it.
Maybe someone will come up with a "Transparent Tea-Clipper" add-on?

N.

 

[ryan]

It'll be intresting to see how practical it is, and if it is which agency jumps on it first.

 

[Wishbone]

Wanna bet, it'd be DARPA