'Sailing spacecraft' may be used to keep watch on Earth's polar regions.Byline: ANI London, September 11 (ANI): If engineers have their way, Earth's polar regions polar regions: see Antarctica; Arctic, the. would soon have watchmen, in the form of 'sailing' spacecrafts poised above the planet, relaying vital data on polar climate Regions with a polar climate are characterized by a lack of warm summers (specifically, no month having an average temperature of 10 °C or higher). Types of polar climate There are two distinct types of polar climate. change or solar storms. "Solar sailing" has long been a dream for space engineers, who have envisaged craft exploring the depths of the solar system solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. , propelled only by light. Such craft could be lighter to launch and would range farther than craft using conventional fuel. But, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report in The Times, scientists are now also exploring more realistic applications that could be deployed in the short term. Because they will never run out of fuel, solar sailing craft could be used to stay in orbits that would be impossible for conventional satellites. Once launched into space, solar sailing craft would unfurl giant sails of thin reflective material. Photons - particles of light - hitting the sails would transfer energy to the craft. Although this force is tiny, in the weightless and airless conditions of space, the craft could build up great speeds. The constant force provided by solar sails could also be used to hold craft in position indefinitely by effectively expanding the solar system's natural balancing points. These, known as Lagrange points, exist where the gravitational grav·i·ta·tion n. 1. Physics a. The natural phenomenon of attraction between physical objects with mass or energy. b. The act or process of moving under the influence of this attraction. 2. attractions from two celestial bodies are exactly equal. According to Colin McInnes, a mechanical engineer at the University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Srath Chluaidh) is a university in Glasgow, Scotland. History The university originated as Anderson's Institution in 1796. , "Even if you've got quite a small force from your solar sail you can shift the Lagrange point quite substantial distances. Even quite a modest solar sail can have a big effect." "Because you've got that small continuous force it gives you vantage points for observation that you can't get with conventional spacecraft because you would run out of propellent pro·pel·lant also pro·pel·lent n. 1. Something, such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel, that propels or provides thrust. 2. fairly quickly," he said. Solar sailing craft would be able to hover above the polar regions, where conventional satellites cannot provide a constant view. "Given the polar region is of great interest to climate change and environmentally monitoring, having an observation point above the poles is of practical interest," Professor McInnes said. If positioned near a Lagrange point closer to the Sun, solar sailing craft could also give early warnings of solar storms that threaten to disrupt the Earth's telecommunications, he added. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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