Abstract- Light Kite. things, finding resources and using them for our own use.

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1 Abstract- Light Kite Using solar sail and laser propulsion as alternative fuel for deep space travel can greatly increase our knowledge of the outside universe. Solar sails attached to the spacecraft captures photons from the sun to propel the craft so it can travel at high speeds. Once the spacecraft is too far from the sun, a laser propulsion system from earth will be used to propel the craft, as well. These lasers will be powerful enough to keep it at the same velocity as it was traveling with the solar sail. Pulsed propulsion is another way to provide fuel because the spacecraft can ride the explosion of the nuclear bombs. A protective shield can keep the craft safe from the radiation and heat caused by the explosion. This invention is beneficial to humans because we have a better chance of discovering incredible things, finding resources and using them for our own use.

2 Title: Lite Kite Present Technology The idea of a spacecraft that could travel deep into space is not a new idea; it has already been used in Japan, on the spacecraft IKAROS, that traveled to Venus using only a solar sail for power. The sail that is currently in use is relatively small however, so it cannot travel at very high speeds. It was also very expensive to construct, costing millions of dollars just to build the sail. To launch it into space was another problem, as was the challenge of getting it to unfurl. Solar sails are a very new technology, and the ones being used today are a very early form of a potential future type of sail. Also, the pulsed propulsion portion of the spacecraft is in use today. Lab experiments have shown that nuclear power and radiation can push and propel objects. However, it is not certain whether or not this would work in the vacuum of space. There is also technology currently in use today that would not be suitable for a project like this, such as the chemical engine. While chemical engines are used for nearly all space missions and satellite launches, they would not work for deep space travel. For example, a spacecraft using a chemical engine that is traveling at the highest speed possible would still take over 80,000 years to reach the nearest star, Alpha Centauri. The technology

3 of solar sails and the pulsed propulsion that is proven to work in lab experiments forms the basis of the possible future technology of this invention. History Space travel has a very long history, from the time humans first gazed at the stars to now, when we are able to travel to the moon and send satellites out of the solar system. Even since the 1920 s, space travel seemed possible in the future. However, it wasn t until 1957 when Russia launched Sputnik that humans were first able to launch something into space. The United States then began to launch their own satellites, and even planned a series of moon missions, the first of which was successfully carried out in For a while after that, the space stations were built, and space shuttles were used to carry humans to and from the station to conduct experiments and projects in space. In the early 2000 s, scientists began work on a solar sail model, which was a new idea that was going to be tested. Japan beat the United States to actually launching a sail, when they launched the satellite IKAROS, a Venus orbiter that was powered only by a solar sail that rode the solar wind. The idea of a sail that could ride the solar wind was even thought about in the 1980 s and 90 s, when they were used in a few science fiction movies. Now, they are no longer science fiction and there is proof that they work.

4 Future Technology The future of space travel is very exciting, considering the many breakthroughs in the past 50 years of space exploration. 20 years from now, it may be possible for humans to begin exploring other star systems, even landing and populating planets. What seems to be the most feasible idea is to use a method of travel that could run on energy that is naturally generated, like the new technology of solar sails. The sail would be very difficult to construct however, but if this hurdle is able to be surpassed, inter- stellar travel seems very likely to occur in the near future. The sail would need to be made of a sturdy material, one that would not be easy to rip through, should it come in contact with an asteroid or other object. One possible way to construct such an object would be to build it on a space station, where many workers would be able to work on it without gravity getting in the way. The sail would need to be at least a few miles long, in order to reach the optimum speed, at least one- tenth the speed of light (18,000 miles per second). The more light that the sail could catch would increase the velocity at a constant rate, hopefully to this speed. Once the craft reached the limits of the solar system however, it would no longer catch enough of the sun s light to maintain this speed. The solution to this would be to ride nuclear radiation waves the rest of the way to the star. Nuclear bombs could be

5 launched behind the ship, propelling it forward. To protect any humans that might be on board the ship, a shield made of lead or any other radiation- protection material could be deployed behind the ship at the same time the bomb was launched. When the craft reached the nearest solar system, which would take hopefully about 40 years, it could retract the solar sail and use reverse thrusters to gradually slow down. Breakthroughs Photosynthesis Reactor Engine- In order to provide additional energy to the solar sail, solar panels located on the engine will capture sunlight photons and artificially photosynthesize to make chemical energy that the can be burned to use as fuel power. At the start of the process, carbon dioxide will need to be reduced to glucose and water will be oxidized, providing electrons for the light reactions of photosynthesis. ATP and NADPH products of the light reactions will also energize the Calvin cycle. After steps of carbon fixation, phosphorylation, and NADPH oxidation, chemical energy will be made. This process will allow the spacecraft to reach its maximum speed. In addition to the attached solar sail, this Photosynthesis Reactor Engine will carry the spacecraft at a much faster rate. Thermonuclear Shield- once the spacecraft runs out of solar energy to ride and the laser propulsion is too far from the spacecraft, it will need an extra boost to

6 keep it moving the same speed as before. Nuclear bombs behind the spacecraft will explode and release much heat and radiation. In order to protect the spacecraft and any humans inside, a shield will need to be heat resistant and lightweight to prevent heat and radiation from reaching the spacecraft. The spacecraft will then ride the explosion for more propulsion after laser propulsion and solar energy is used. Solar Sail that can successfully open up quickly- the solar sail will capture sunlight energy to propel the spacecraft, and will propel it at least four light years in less than a lifetime. Using the solar sail alone allows the spacecraft to constantly accelerate 1/10 th the speed of light. The radiation pressure of light pushes ultra- thin mirrors on the sails to high speeds, very similar to the wind with a sailboat in the ocean. It is important that the sails are able to open efficiently, without bunching up as it s opened, so the spacecraft can use as much energy from the sun as possible before getting to far from the sun. Design Process The model was constructed using a piece of sturdy cardboard as the main spaceship component, and this was painted black. Then, the photosynthesis reactor engine was painted light green, and the sail in front of the ship gold. (The sail is connected to the ship using pipe cleaners.) Technology one is the craft and

7 shield, which holds the cargo and protects the ship against radiation, in the shield s case. The possible nickname that could be used is the Light Flyer. One technology that was rejected in favor of this one was a ship with a circular body. Technology two is the Engine, which uses light energy and converts it to fuel to give the ship a boost before the sail unfurls. A possible nickname for it would be the Power Plant. A technology that was rejected in favor of this one is a chemical start- up engine. The third piece of technology is the Solar Sail that can move much faster than a regular one. A possible nickname for it would be the Sun Kite. Technology that was rejected in favor of this one is the traditional solar sail, which is much smaller. Consequences Positive: The solar sail and the laser propulsion allow the spacecraft to travel very far distances in the solar system. It reaches a faster speed than the spacecrafts used today that run on fuel power. This can be beneficial to humans because we can discover new planets and possibly use the resources from these other planets. Since humans are using so many natural resources on Earth, finding other places in space would be a great benefit. Exploring deep into space can increase our

8 knowledge of astronomy. If fuel power was used for deep space travel, it will eventually run out of fuel and get lost in space. Solar sails are very efficient, using the energy from the sun s photons to propel the entire spacecraft. When the spacecraft is too far from the sun, the lasers will be used to propel it, giving it more energy. With using this alternative energy, engines won t need to use fuel power and therefore not have to pay for this kind of energy. Negative: Along with many benefits that come with using the solar sail, there are also negative aspects. There is a possibility that the sail will fail to unfurl and then the spacecraft wouldn t use the sun s energy to carry it in space. The sail is essential for travel and will be devastating if it doesn t unfurl. Even though fuel power won t need to be bought, the laser propulsion system will be expensive, and the solar sail comes with a price, too. There is also a possibility that the material used for the shield will not protect the spacecraft from the nuclear explosions completely. This is very dangerous to anyone inside the spacecraft, and to the craft itself.

9 Bibliography: Bonsor, Kevin. How Solar Sails Work. How Stuff Works, 1/12/11 sail.htm Kantrowitz, A. "Propulsion to Orbit by Ground Based Lasers." Aeronautics and Astronautics, 9(3), (1972). 1/2/11 Pearson, Ben. Electromagnetic Pulse Shockwaves as a result of Nuclear Pulse Propulsion. Space Daily, 1/22/3. 12/21/ a.html

10 The Light Kite-Deep Space Spacecraft Present The first spacecraft to land on the moon was the Luna 2. There were no people inside so when it crashed onto the surface nobody was harmed Future Steps Steps Design 1959 Date 2 Date 3 Date 4 Date 5 Date 6

11 History The Light Kite-Deep Space Spacecraft Steps Design Future Solar Sail The first to unfurl a solar sail successfully in space was the Japanese IKAROS in 2010 Tech 2 Tech 3 - Solar Sails work by deploying a sail in front of the spacecra@, allowing it to capture sunlight. The cra@ can then ride the photon energy released by the sun to travel at speeds much faster than a convenhonal rocket.

12 History The Light Kite-Deep Space Spacecraft Present Steps Design Tech 1 Laser Propulsion Tech 3 Once the spacecraft is far enough from the sun that the solar sail can t be used, lasers will be used to propel it - The lasers will keep the spacecraft at the same velocity as the solar sail did before

13 History The Light Kite-Deep Space Spacecraft Present Design Future An artificial photosynthesis engine Converts sunlight to fuel power for thrust of spacecraft Power- Plant Breakthrough 2 Breakthrough 3

14 History The Light Kite-Deep Space Spacecraft Present Steps Future This is what the might look like in real life This is the prototype that we built in class Rejected Idea 1 Rejected Idea 2 Rejected Idea 3