From:	Tim Cooper <tpcooper@***.CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Space Travel
Date:	Fri, 20 Dec 1996 00:35:39 -0800

On Thu, 19 Dec 1996, David Thompson wrote:

> About space travel -- what about the solar sail idea that works off the
> momentum imparted by photons striking the surface of the sail. If I
> remember correctly, it works theoretically, acceleration is really slow, but
> top speed is way up there.
>
> Whatever, just something I remember reading about.
>
> --Dave
>

Check out a piece of good sci-fi called "Roche World". A ship is sent ot
a distant solar system utilizing a solar sail propelled by about 6
sky-scraper sized lazers orbiting Mars. ('Course it took quite a while to
get there and they used some "anti-aging" drugs for the time spent in
transit...) But the stuff on the solar sails was pretty good.

~Tim