Re: MARS HYBRID DESIGN II (First Draft)

["L. Parker" <lparker@destin.gulfnet.com>]

At 10:48 AM 3/5/96 PST, you wrote:

>
>>>Kelly Says:
>>>>If the Pathfinders are reflecting the beam off to one side.  They will be
>>>>pushed out of the beam in the other direction, and accelerated forward.
>>>>Given that the beam presure is strong enough push the ships in the first
>>>>place, it would be too strong for the ships thrust against.
>>>
>>>Brian Says:
>>>I'm not sure I understand the last sentence.
>>
>>>Kelly Says:
>>>The beam holds the projected momentum needed to push our obserdly heavy
>>>ship.  If said ship isn't in the beam, the reflectors in the beam will 
>have
>>>to angle relative to the beam.  That will mean that the thrust angles on
>>>the reflectors and the receaving ship, will also be angled.  Since the
>>>thrust isn't paralell to the beam/course.  The ship and reflectors will be
>>>pushed out to the sides.  I.E. off the beam, and off course.

I am not going to get into the math, but you CAN tack a solar sail to sail
towards the sun, so what is the problem with using TC? You might have to
have the Pathfinder tack around TC several times in a decreasing spiral, but
it should be possible to decelerate with JUST the energy from TC.

Lee Parker
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+  Weave a circle 'round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread...   +
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