Courtesyof the Planetary Society
Courtesyof the Planetary Society
Alan, an extremely accomplished expert in satellites and lasers, is definitely thinking of interstellar voyages. "Laser propelled solar sails will be the only way to propel fast interstellar missions", he states and with that idea is moving forward to possibly test laser-beamed propulsion on solar sails. With his great fascination in lasers Alan described what he called "city busters" which could one day propel carbon-based light sails at .1c.(10% the speed of light) Called "city busters" because if pointed at earth this hypothetical laser, combined through a synthetic appiture array (telescope array) could annihilate cities. Carbon material he describes would be necessary, because with such intense heat produced by the laser carbon is the only lightweight material that can keep its structural integrity. It wasn't long after interviewing Alan that I realized I was talking to one of the most influential and technically knowledgeable scientists in the subject of interstellar propulsion and with that came the expectation that this man was going to make something happen. He is still only 31 years old.
Residing in the quaint house that has been made headquarters by the Planetary Society made me feel akin to visiting Montecello where I felt a powerful feeling of destiny reflecting back on the eventful history that took place in those quarters. One could not help but think that history had something in store for the home of the Planetary Society when Alan repeated the phrase by Carl Sagan in the Public Television series Cosmos, "We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars" Back to News
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