Posted on 05/31/2005 6:17:15 PM PDT by KevinDavis
Russia has dispatched a solar-sail spacecraft and a space parachute to waters off its northern coast to be launched from a submarine in the Barents Sea.
The unmanned spacecraft with eight triangular sail blades, each 16.5 yards long, and a new inflatable deceleration device, have been dispatched to the main administrative base of Russia's Northern Fleet, Severomorsk, the Lavochkin production and science association said.
The spacecraft, called Cosmos 1, is to be launched on June 21. The launch had been planned for March but was postponed, because the preparatory work had not been completed in time.
Scientists will study the possibility of using a solar sail as a propulsion system and as a way to control the spacecraft during its orbital flight. The spacecraft is being built under contract to the U.S. Planetary Society.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...
I do too. I just hope they don't postpone it again. Then again I don't want to see it blow up halfway up *knock on wood*
This stuff is super cool.
I think we are living in a new era of space exploration..
What an interesting way to test your ICBM systems without raising a furor over the breaking of treatys.
Everyone needs to launch spacecraft from submarines...
NOT!
I never thought about that but you're exactly right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.