Pacific Energycompany: Supplying San Luis Obispo County with clean burning stoves, fireplaces and solar energy equipment. |
Pacific Solar Screens Las Vegas: Product shades window blinds from sun fading and conserves energy. |
Parabolic-Trough Technology : Roadmap document recently published by SunLab (PDF format) |
Passive Solar Housing: How to build homes that use less than half the energy of conventional homes yet will fit into a typical suburban neighborhood. |
Peak Energy: Energy management consultancy, including wind and solar. Profile, services and tariff. |
Philadelphia Million Solar Roofscommunity Partnership: Find out about this collaboration of local organizations and small businesses committed to helping the five county region of Southeastern Pennsylvania contribute over 500 new solar energy installations by 2010. |
Photo Voltaic Energy Servicecompanies: Project of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) which attempts to demonstrate a framework through which solar electricity services can be provided in rural areas of Zambia in a sustainable manner. |
Photovoltaic (Solar Cell) Systems: Producing electricity directly from sunlight. |
Photovoltaic Cells: Photovoltaic (PV) cells are devices that convert sunlight to electricity, bypassing thermodynamic cycles and mechanical generators. PV stands for photo (light) and voltaic (electricity), whereby sunlight photons free electrons from common silicon. The phenomenon was first discovered in the 18th century. The photovoltaic cells were developed at Bell Labs in 1950 primarily initially for space applications. The Hubbell telescope utilizes solar panels for its energy requirements. |
Photovoltaicscom: buy and sell used, broken and new solar cells and panels. |
Pioneer Systems Alternative Energy Power Sources: Wind power turbines and generators, solar electric, battery powered AC for remote sites, remote telecommunications |
Policies To Support A Distributed Energy System: by Thomas J. Starrs and Howard J. Wenger |
Powersat Corporation: Describes and promotes a concept of placing large solar cells in orbit and wirelessly transferring the energy to a receiving station on earth. |
Princeton University Physics Department: Borexino Group. Experiment being performed in Italy designed to detect low-energy solar neutrinos. |
Public Education And Professional Training: by Larry Shirley, Shawn Fitzpatrick, and Chris Larsen |
PV Web: Information about photovoltaic power and solar electricity from the British Photovoltaic Association, which supports development of these technologies in the UK. |
PVACCEPT | Photovoltaics Research Project: PVACCEPT is a European Union funded German-Italian research and demonstration project. It aims at designing and developing marketable solar modules for electricity generation. |
PVTEC: Photovoltaic Power Generation Technology Research Association |
Pyramid Powercompany: Transportable remote area power system. Based on solar energy, Pyramid Power is a total package , including Solar modules Photovoltaic), Batteries, Inverter, Regulator |
Pyronsolar: designers of a photovoltaic power plant concept using optical tracking to maximize energy conversion. |
QIS Solarwise Solar Energy Pool Heating And Insulation: QIS is in the energy conservation industry. Specialises in Solarwise Pool heating, Ventilation, and Insulation products for domestic, commercial and industrial markets. |
Ra Energy Foundation : |
Ready Made Resources: Offers books, foods, medical supplies, weapons of mass destruction protection, non-electric appliances, solar and wind energy equipment, and videos. |
Renewable Energy Association Of Central Texas : |
Renewable Northwest Projet: Solar Energy Technology |
Renwable Energy Access : Get the latest Renewable Energy News – conveniently delivered to your email in-box, every business day! |
Residential Energy Efficiency Database: Savings guide; construction; site, solar, and house plans; attics, insulation and vapor barriers. |
Retractable Solar Screens: Offering solar screens, retractable patio awnings and energy saving products. |
RE-Wrenches: Messages forum for solar installers and interested bystanders. |
RF Energy Via Ionospheric Reflection: Presents a concept and experiment data for extracting RF energy from the Solar excitation of the ionosphere layers and a simple reflecting antenna system. |
Rural Electrification With Solar Energy As A Climate Protection Strategy (January 2000): As the world struggles to control energy-related greenhouse gases, electricity-starved rural families in the developing world toil to build decent lives. Photovoltaic systems provide a unified solution, bringing power to these that need it, while making a moderate but important contribution to climate protection. [html format] |
RV Solar Electric Inc : Solar consulting, information, education and products in the field of alternative energy for recreational vehicles. Good RV information. |
RV Solar Power: RV solar power system. Personal home page describing the installation of a complete RV photovoltaic system in a 5th wheel. Pictures and diagrams. |
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Links to Information about Solar Energy
Illinois Solar Energy Association: Seeks to provide education and resources through monthly meetings, sponsored events, expositions, and competitions. Site features educational articles, newsletter, rebate program information and links. |
Independent Step-By-Step Guide To Purchasing A Solar Energy System – Solarbuzz: |
Indirect Forms Of Solar Energy: |
Industry Development Strategy For The PV Sector: by Eric Ingersoll, Daniel C. Gallagher, and Romana A. Vysatova |
Insolation (Solar Radiation) Data Base 30 Year: Database of actual measured solar radiation for hundreds of US cities over a 30-year period. This is the standard database for figuring nearly all-solar electric systems. |
Inspira: Custom design, prototyping, manufacturing and testing of equipment for the solar energy industry. |
Institut For Solar Technology SPF: A research and testing institute for thermal solar energy. Main specialties: collectors, systems, materials and software to calculate and optimize collector system properties. [German, English, French, Spanish, Italian] |
Institute For Sustainable Power: nonprofit corporation, organized to provide a quality framework for the accreditation of training programs. |
Inti Tech: Solar energy system consultant specialists in AC/DC photovoltaic hydroelectric power generation. Offers alternative energy solutions for electricity production, water delivery, communications and remote living applications. |
ISECO Solar Energy Co Ltd : Providing solar water heating systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Includes a list of completed projects. |
ISES 2005 Solar World Congress: Links to call for papers, preliminary schedule for 5 day International Solar Energy Society event in Orlando, Florida (USA). |
ISES Italia Sezione Dellinternational Solar Energy Society: Associazione per la formazione e l’informazione nel campo delle fonti di energia rinnovabile e gli usi razionali dell’energia. |
JC Solar House Plans And Solar Collectors: Contains a lot of information about solar energy panels, solar hot water, and solar collectors. |
Jerry Halsteads: EV conversion of 1985 Mazda with full web based chronicle. Excellent site! |
Kangaroo Building Services: Residential and commercial window cleaning/power washing, as well as sales and installation of energy efficient solar screens. Includes company history and references. |
Kiraly Josef: Photographs of completed solar panel home projects. Includes energy requirements. Based in Austria. |
L5 Development Group: A privately funded, for profit, space exploration and development program whose initial business plan is to build space colonies at L5 and manufacture solar power satellites to meet the Earth’s energy needs |
LC Solar: Wholesale suppliers of photovoltaic solar panels worldwide. An article on solar energy can be found along with product details, information on their use, care and warranty. |
LENS: Low Energy Neutrino Spectroscopy aims to measure the solar neutrino spectrum at low energy in real time. |
LH2com Hydrogen And Liqud Hydrogen Energy Resources: Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) or Hydrogen Energy website. Chat with like minds on our bulletin board. Search manufacturers, inventors, investors, fuel cells, energy, wind, solar, cars, international news. |
Lino Apontes: site to informs Puerto Rico locals about solar energy. |
NEW Living on Solar Energy: We have created this site to show how we are living on solar. We have made and will be making solar videos that can be watched through this site showing the various ways that we use the sun to provide for our energy needs. |
Low Temperature And Solar Stirling Engines: Stirling engines that demonstrate the conversion of unconcentrated sunlight or low temperature heat into mechanical energy. These engines are suitable as demonstration models in schools and universities. |
Manytracks: Information about homesteading, organic gardening, self-sufficiency, seed saving, solar energy and recumbent bicycles. |
Metcalfs Solar Power And Light: Details about a home solar photovoltaic system in Glendale, California. |
Methods Of Producing Energy Out Of Solar Heat : from the Polytechnical College of Esslingen, Germany. |
Mexico Solar: Offers design, installation, and maintenance of solar energy home heating and water heating devices. |
Michael Bott: BP Solar 1.7Kwh system installed and commissioned on 6 Jan 2005. I have been monitoring the systems output daily and placing system output data on the site. |
Michael Klemen: my renewable energy experiences including lots of real life wind turbine/PV data and service histories for 9 different turbines are here. |
Michael Macfaden: A residential grid-tied PV system install with a live 24-hour production report. |
Microsolar: manufacturer and exporter of multi-valve solar water heating systems and solar panels for residential and industrial applications. |
Million Solar Roofs Solar Technologies: Solar Hot Water : This site provides information on the US Department of Energy’s sponsored Million Solar Roofs Initiative. This initiative will enable businesses and communities to install solar systems on one million rooftops across the United States by 2010. |
Mobile Solar: Specializing in wireless energy such as solar cells/chargers, flashing antennae and phone accessories. |
Moscow We Have A Problem: An interview with NASA officials about a serious accident aboard the Mir station caused when the Mir cosmonauts lost control of a resupply ship, crashing it into the space station. The collision caused a depressurization and damaged the station’s solar panels. [PBS] |
MSK Corporation : |
Mystery Of Nazca Lines: Alla Belokon suggests that the lines represent our Solar system planets as crystal structure nodes, and was built by a flow of directed energy of unknown nature from the air. |
NASA Langley Distributed Active Archive (DAAC) : Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy Data Set |
NASA SOHO: |
National Center For Photovoltaics (NCPV): U.S. Department of Energy. Research and development, and information source on photovoltaics. Website includes a virtual library of online reference materials and photographs on photovoltaic technology, educational materials, links to commercial suppliers and other web resources. |
National Park Service Renewable Energy Applications: |
National Photovoltaic Environmental Health And Safety Assistance Center: Information and analysis on environmental aspects of photovoltaic (solar electric) technology, including concerns about heavy metals in solder. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. |
Natural Energy Solar Pool Heating Systems: Solar pool heating systems, installations in California and Nevada. Ordering information, product descriptions and specifications. |
Natural Energy Source: Offers a variety of natural energy products and turnkey wind and solar power arrangements. |
Nemo Solar DC Submersible Well Pumps: Sells energy-efficient 12 and 24 VDC submersible well pumps, to be powered by battery, inverter, or directly by solar modules. |
Nevada PV Pilot With Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) (Nevada PV Bill): Pilot programs have been approved to accelerate the market development for distributed PV installations in schools, public buildings, and individual residential and small business establishments. |
New Jersey Zero Energy Remodeling Project Points The Way To Gains In Residential Energy Efficiency: |
Next Edge: Provider of energy solutions, energy efficient lighting, HVAC retrofitting, cogeneration, back-up power, and solar energy. |
Noaas Solar And Thermal Atmospheric Radiation (STAR) : |
Noaas SURFRAD Network: |
North Sun 2001 Conference: A conference focusing on all aspects of solar energy. |
Norwegian Solar Energy Society (ISES Norway): Features contact information and links. (Most of the site is in Norwegian.) |
Novasol Inc: Solar And Wind Energy: Sales, installations, system designs. |
NREL: Photovoltaics For Buildings: includes information on photovoltaics (PV) or solar electricity for homes and commercial buildings and PV research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. |
Number One Source Ltd : Offers solar energy, passive cooling and wind energy systems including system design, procurement and construction. Includes news on current projects. Located on the West Bank. |
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Engineering Science And Technology Division |
: R&D organization specializing in industrial and buildings energy efficiency; energy utilization technologies; transportation analysis; solar technology; and related areas. |
Optical Energy Technologies Inc : Manufacture non-tracking concentrating solar collectors, and install and service solar energy systems. Includes product overviews and photographs. |
Overview Of Solar Thermal Technologies: an overview of the technologies for generating electricity from the concentration of solar thermal energy, this site is maintained by EREN. |
Links to Information about Solar Energy
Eagle 1 Manufacturing: manufacturer of solar powered lighting and water distribution systems as well as agricultural/pest control sprayers. |
Earthright Solar Products: Energy efficient appliances, solar, wind and waterpower, efficient lighting products, water filtration, composting toilets, and solar powered short-wave radios. Order by phone or mail order. |
Edwards Energy Systems Pty Ltd: Manufacturers and markets domestic and commercial hot water heating systems, gas, oil, electric and solar. |
Enercontrol Technologies Inc : Sales and manufacture of energy saving products for homes, industries and offices, featuring In’Flector solar comfort panels. |
Energy Ministère Des Ressources Naturelles: Information on how the Québec government and its partners develop, distribute and manage natural resources, in particular hydro-electricity and new forms of energy such as solar and wind energy. |
Energy Savers Solar Screens: Sells and installs window screens. |
Energy Science News: |
Energy Source: Designs and installs radiant heat systems, boilers, solar heating, and central air conditioning. Lists products, services, FAQs, and related links. |
Enolar Systems Marketing Pvt Ltd : Mfrs. of Solar Energy Devices such as Solar Water Heaters, Solar Cookers, Solar Lighting, Solar Dryers, etc. |
EPA Solar Site: This site focuses on EPA’s solar-related activities.) |
Ericson Solar: providing custom design and installation of photovoltaic systems in Northern California and sales of components. |
Ersol Solar Energy AG: Produktion von polykristallinen Solarzellen und Solarmodulen zum Einsatz in Photovoltaik-Anlagen. Vorstellung der Produkte und Anwendungsbereiche, und Messetermine. |
Expanding Markets For Photovoltaics: What To Do Next (December 1998): Notwithstanding economic progress, markets for photovoltaics (PV) remain small and scattered. Based on extensive research and professional review, we endorse the product path to expand PV markets, as described in a ten-point package of recommendations. |
Expert Solar Systems: Installs and services solar energy products, pool heating and domestic hot water systems, hybrid electric supplies and related products. |
Farrimond Contracting: Remodeling, cabinetwork, tile, paint, electrical, solar energy and other projects. Includes experience, services, and contacts. |
Financing Large-Scale Increases In PV Production Capacity Through Innovative Risk-Management Structures And Contracts: by Eric Ingersoll, Robert DiMatteo, and Romana A. Vysatova |
Financing Solar Energy In The U.S. (July 1999): This scoping paper establishes a framework for a potential future project on the "financeability" of solar energy. It considers solar energy from the point of view of potential lenders, who assess the likelihood of repayment, first from the borrower’s cash flow and good character; second from the solar system’s collateral value; and finally from third-party guarantees. |
Finley Shapiro: Solar Energy consultant. Philadelphia PA |
First S RAMP Conference 2000: Conference held October 2-6, 2000 to review a five-year effort to optimize the analysis of data obtained during STEP (Solar-Terrestrial Energy Program, 1990-1997). Reports and abstracts available online. |
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) : Meteorological Station |
Florida Solar Energy Research & Education Foundation : This Florida solar energy research and education organization provides the latest information regarding a number of active solar programs in Florida including homebuilder and utility initiatives. Also included is information on the various solar technologies, a photo library, and links to numerous other solar energy sites. |
Focus Solar Water Heater: Manufacturer and exporter of solar energy heating systems including solar water heater and evacuated heat pipe solar collector. |
Forrest Cooks : electronic circuits page contains a wide variety of free electronic circuits including a section on solar power circuitry. |
Future Of Solar Energy: The success of solar power will depend on the answer to the following question: ‘What do you do when the sun goes down?’ The simple answer is to build an auxiliary system that will store energy when the sun is out.. However, the problem is that such storage systems are unavailable today. Simple systems, like water pipes surrounded by vacuum, do exist. It is based on the concept that provided the pipes are insulated, the water will store thermal energy. |
G Tek: develops photovoltaics projects and solar energy systems ( zero emission ) for civil and industrial power applications. |
Gallium Neutrino Observatory: An solar neutrino detector at Gran Sasso, Italy, measuring low energy solar neutrino flux. The successor experiment to GALLEX. |
George Matthews: articles on renewable energy and the reasons for it (geotherapy) and some practical projects: biogas & water hyacinth in Africa. |
GEWEX Continental Scale International Project (GCIP) Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Data Http://Wwwmetoumdedu/~Srb) : Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Data |
Google says, ‘Here comes the sun’: Google Inc. is converting its renowned headquarters to run partly on solar power, hoping to set an example for corporate America. The undertaking will be the largest solar project by a U.S. company. Google believes the sun eventually can deliver as much as 30 percent of the power at its 1-million-square-foot campus in Mountain View — a suburb about 35 miles south of San Francisco…. |
Great Lakes Energy: Alternative energy systems. Solar (photovoltaic) power systems; Trace inverters, chargers and controllers; storage batteries and installations. |
Green Ideals: Eco-friendly products include recycled office supplies, organic clothing, solar gadgets, alternative energy products, personal care, pet supplies, house wares, toys, garden supplies, and biodegradable cleaners. |
Green Store: Offers organic clothing, natural bedding, solar and wind home energy systems and alternative health remedies. |
Greenfield Hydroponics Systems Inc : Manufacturers of solar, 110/220 volt powered portable greenhouse to grow sprouts, herbs, leafy vegetables, medicinal plants, mushroom, seedlings for commercial crops and reforestation. |
Greenstreet Construction And Consulting: Construction firm specializing in high-performance green building for both new construction and renovation. Also provide LEED consulting and solar, wind, and geothermal energy system design and installation. |
Group Makes Plastic Solar Energy Cells: [CNN] |
Guanming Lighting Manufacturer: Exporter of outdoors lighting, street lighting, garden lighting, and wall recessed lighting, solar energy lamp. |
Guy Marsdens: web log about the design and installation of his workshop heating system (see his article in HP#89 p.34-43) |
Halo Energy : |
Harmony Solar: providing design, installation, and maintenance for passive solar and solar electric arrays. |
Harter Industries Inc : Harter Industries, Inc. produces technologically advanced solar pool heaters for any swimming pool or spa. Solar pool heating utilizes energy from the sun. Harter Industries, Inc. manufactures Hi-Tec, Hi-Temp and EZ Heat Solar Pool Heaters. |
Hat Creek Electronic Publishing: "Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric System" |
Hazards Of Solar Energy Solar Circuit Designs: |
HEASARC: High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center. Provides an archive of data on and software for analyzing gamma ray, X-ray, and extreme ultraviolet observations of cosmic non-solar sources. |
Heavens Solar Technology : |
Helioakmi Ltd : manufactures and exports Megasun solar water heaters and forced circulation systems for home and professional use. |
HESSI At Berkeley: This site provides information on the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, a NASA spacecraft able to make high-resolution images and spectra of the soft x-ray and gamma-ray emission of the Sun. |
HESSI Home Page: HESSI, High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |
High-Flux Solar Furnaces: from the Polytechnical College of Esslingen, Germany. |
Hotwire Enterprises: High output wind generators, solar panels (Siemens and Canrom), low-amp port fans, and related products available for folks who need to be energy-independent. |
How Do Different Solar Technologies Effect The Environment?: |
How Much Does Solar Power Cost?: |
How Solar Works: "Photo" means light and "voltaic" means electricity, so photovoltaic (PV) systems create electricity from light. PV provides a powerful solution for today’s energy needs. PV is clean, economical, reliable and versatile, harnessing the infinite power of the sun. Oil supplies and energy prices fluctuate, but the sun always shines. In fact, every hour, the Earth receives more solar energy than it uses from burning fossil fuels for an entire year! |
Hydro Energy: Das Unternehmen bietet Beratung, Planung, Forschung und Entwicklung in den Bereichen Erdwärme und Solarenergie für intelligente und zukunftssichere Systeme aller Art in Haushalt, Gewerbe und Industrie. |
Links to Information about Solar Energy
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Solar Cell Circuits
What is Solar Energy?
Solar Energy Basics – Passive Solar – Photovoltaic
Solar Cooking – Solar Sails – Solar Radiation – Solar Thermal – Geothermal
Videos: Geothermal – Photovoltaic – Solar Energy – Solar Thermal
Quick Facts about Solar Energy
- “Solar” is the Latin word for “sun.”
- The sun provides energy in two forms – light and heat. The sun can be used to heat water in our homes and businesses. It can also produce electricity. Energy produced by the sun is called solar power.
- Since the beginning of mankind we have used the energy of the sun to dry clothes and food, but it wasn’t until 1954 that scientists in the United States worked out a way to use the sun to create electricity.
- Sunlight that shines on the Earth in just one hour could meet world energy demand for an entire year!
- Various types of solar thermal devices are now available in the country these includes solar water heaters, solar cookers, solar stills, solar dryers etc. apart from these devices, solar energy is also being used particularly in the colder areas of the country for space heating by including solar passive features in the buildings; and for agriculture by utilizing solar greenhouses.
- In the 1830s, explorer John Herschel used a solar collector to cook food during an adventure in Africa.
Links for teachers and parents:
- Solar Energy Technologies Program by the U.S. Department of Energy
- Solar Power Basics by the Solar Electric Power Association
- Energy Conservation lesson plans
- More resources for teachers and parents
Industry Associations
American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
Data Sources & References
EERE State Incentives & Partnerships
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
Renewable Energy Resource Data Center – Get Solar Maps and GIS Data
Solar power: Solar power, but what is solar power? and how will you make the best use of it? well, the answer to this is very….
The Solar Guide: This website that makes solar energy accessible and understandable to you. The Solar Guide aims to give consumers the practical information they want, about buying solar and renewable energy systems.
Solar Panels for Homes
Provides the resources you need when considering a residential solar photovoltaic system. We provide information on how to perform a site evaluation, compare the different solar technologies available, and keep you informed of the latest trends in the industry.
U.S. Government Programs & Resources
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
DOE’s Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
Million Solar Roofs Initiative
U.S. Products and/or Services
Creative Energies A Renewable Energy Company: Wyoming’s full-service renewable energy company featuring solar, wind, and water solutions for business and residential customers.
Bright Green Energy: Source for Solar and Photovoltaic Panels, Wind Turbines, Rutland wind chargers, Aerogen wind generators, Batteries, Inverters and other solar powered products.
US Solar Signs: Manufacturer of solar powered signs for real estate, business and commercial applications. Patented design. No electrical wiring or maintenance is required. Battery-operated signs are recharged daily with solar energy. Signs can be customized to meet your application.
NEW Powerenz: Portable Solar Power Units- Ultra-Lightweight Portable Solar Power Units that can be custom made for any application.
Solar Thermal
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Solar Cooking
Solar Cooking
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Solar Sail Links
How Stuff Works: How Solar Sails Work: looks at how solar sails work, takes an in-depth look at the Cosmos-1 mission, and finds out what solar-sails mean for future space travel. |
Institute of Planetary Exploration – Solar Sail Home Page: |
Interstellar Probe: Exploring the Interstellar Medium and the Boundaries of the Heliosphere: project of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which would use a solar sail spacecraft. |
What are Solar Sails?
How does a solar sail work? A solar sail is a spacecraft with a large, lightweight mirror attached to it that moves by being pushed by light reflecting off of the mirror instead of rockets. When the light from the Sun reflects off the surface of the solar sail, the energy and momentum of light particles known as "photons" is transferred to the sail. This gives the sail a "push" that accelerates it through space. Although the acceleration is very slight, it is also continuous, enabling the sail to reach very high speeds in a relatively short time. The direction of the push is controlled by the angle of the sail with respect to the Sun, adding to or subtracting from the orbital velocity. How does light push a solar sail? Does a solar sail fly on the solar wind? How fast does a solar sail go? But the real advantage of solar sailing is that, unlike a chemical rocket that applies a lot of thrust but only for an instant, sunlight hitting the sail applies thrust continuously. In 100 days a sail could reach 16,000 kilometers per hour (10,000 miles per hour); in one year it could reach 58,000 kilometers per hour (36,000 miles per hour). In just three years, a solar sail could reach a speed of over 160,000 kilometers per hour (100,000 miles per hour). At that speed you could reach Pluto in less than five years. In comparison, the New Horizons misson to Pluto, using chemical propulsion and a gravity-assist from Jupiter, is planned to take nine years to reach its target. Still, 160,000 kilometers per hour (100,000 miles per hour) is still only 0.00015 the speed of light. It would take about 1,000 years for a solar sail to reach one-tenth the speed of light, even with light shining on it continuously. This emphasizes just how hard interstellar flight is. It will take advanced sails much thinner than today’s technology, plus a laser power source in space that can operate over interstellar distances to reach one-tenth the speed of light in less than 100 years. Some researchers of beamed-power sailing think that use of high-temperature materials may make such speeds possible in a few decades. What can a solar sail be used for? What is the advantage of using a solar sail? Can a solar sail only provide thrust away from the Sun? Why hasn’t anyone flown a solar sail before? |