Originally Posted By: Mike Kremer
Its unlikely that our sun would be strong enough to push a solar Sail beyond Jupiter?


I think the consensus is that beyond mars, solar intensity provides minimal force. But that doesn't mean the sail can only go to mars - it'll go as far as its velocity allows - build up enough speed in the inner solar system and you could escape the suns gravity all together. You just wouldn't accelerate much once you pass the orbit or mars.

The idea of using orbital lasers is an old one, and one which would work so long as you can find someone you trust to have multi-megawatt lasers in orbit.

Bryan

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