Solar sail question

[Fallingstar1971]

I have been exposed to the idea of a solar sail to propel a spacecraft using the solar wind. I have some questions on the tech.

My questions are these

1. Is it possible to construct a lightweight device capable of simulating the solar wind?

2. Would it be possible to have this device mounted on a vehicle equipped with a solar sail to use as a secondary propulsion method for when in-between stars? (envision a sailboat with a built on fan blowing on the sails)


Star

 

[michaelmozina]

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space ... index.html

I don't think you'd have much success with the fan idea only because there is an equal and opposite reaction issue to consider, but you could mount the laser on Earth, fire the laser at the target and ride that laser beam through space.

 

[neilsox]

As michael suggested, the fan blowing on the sail does not produce significant propulsion, if both are mounted on the same vehicle.
We can sort of simulate solar wind and solar sail at a one in a million scale, but we can't make either low enough mass to clearly demonstrate the principles involved, at any scale. CNT with great specs may make a solar sail practical. Neil