Topic: Space Sails Could Bring Used Rockets Back To Earth

[sam]

THE risk to spacecraft from a collision with space debris could be reduced by equipping launchers with a gossamer-thin "sail". The idea is to deploy the sail after the rocket has released its payload to amplify the drag of the last vestiges of the atmosphere, and so force the rocket out of orbit.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227045.900-space-sail-could-bring-used-rockets-back-to-earth.html

[Simon]

Personally, I'd be more concerned about where they landed when they come back to Earth.   

[sam]

I think the idea is to let it burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

As for bringing things down - they are quite good at bringing them down in 'right' place.

[Simon]

The Houses of Parliament would be a good landing spot! 

[captainhaddock]

Not exactly a new idea, think it was Larry Niven first proposed it but I may be wrong, I usually am 

[sam]

oh, most ideas aren't normally new ones...

[Simon]

Not exactly a new idea, think it was Larry Niven first proposed it but I may be wrong, I usually am 

Oi!  I'm the one who's always wrong around here, and I have exclusive rights to it!   

[captainhaddock]