maxwell@babel.DEC (05/30/85)
Regarding Henry Spencer's ultra-light (2 kg) sail payload: > Power and communications will obviously be major issues.... Communications > will probably require a steerable antenna, alas. Would optical communication > be better? If an omni-directional mirror, such as those left on the moon as a laser target, could be made light enough, how about the following: Cover the 'mirror' with an LCD shutter, which is modulated by (low power) on-board electronics. The payload is tracked by ground based telescopes, which point a laser at the target (the sail should be easy to track optically) and record the reflection. Result: no moving parts. Problems to solve: mass of mirror, LCD longevity, and the mirror's size, shape and fight orientation (since it's fixed relative to the sail throughout the flight). -+- Sid Maxwell, DEC @ Spit Brook, Nahsua NH