Science fiction may become fact: Cosmos 1 launches tomorrow

PASADENA: The sci-fi notion of a solar-light propelled spacecraft will take its first step towards turning into reality on Tuesday. A private group of space enthusiasts - the Planetary Society, will launch Cosmos 1, a spacecraft powered only by the light reflected off an array of mylar sails.

The driving force behind this experiment is Ann Druyan - the widow of science fiction writer Carl Sagan whose fan following spans at least three generations. Druyan heads Cosmos Studios which has funded the mission. With tomorrow’s launch Duryan will see her famous husband’s concept being tried out.

The craft will have a thrust just one-ten-thousandth as powerful as gravity, so speed is ruled out. But after it gets into orbit and its mylar sails are unfurled and adjusted to catch the sun’s rays it would then pick up speed and be directed towards an outer orbit and eventually towards the outer reaches of the galaxy.

If all goes well, and the spacecraft progresses as hoped, it could radically change the economics of government space agencies which are known to mount multi-billion dollar space programs. This is the first time any organization has tried to see if a low budget space program works. (This one cost $4 million, a shoe-string budget by any yardstick.)

The craft will operate on the theory that the windmill-like blades will catch streams of photons from the sun’s rays. Although photons have no mass, each carries a tiny amount of energy that would be transferred to the spacecraft; the collective energy of the photons would propel the craft forward in the friction-less environment of space.

Interestingly, the spacecraft’s launch will be equally unique: it will ride a converted Volna intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon of mass destruction of the kind used during the Soviet regime. The missile/spacecraft will be launched from a submerged Russian submarine in the Barent Sea (north Scandinavia).

Cosmos 1 will be eagerly watched not only by government agencies like NASA but also by space enthusiasts the world over. It will be visible from the earth’s surface. For instructions on observing the spacecraft you may log on to the site of the Planetary Society: planetary.org/solarsail/watch/guide.html

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