Light sail SPS; Sun-Earth L1 (was Correcting my own math -- CORRECTED)

On Feb 3, 2012, at 11:21 PM, hitssquad wrote:

>
> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Frank wrote:
> > I would propose a combination of solar sailing and solar electric.
>
> Keith Henson already addressed this proposal three years ago on the
> SSI list. See the archive links I just posted previously.
>
> Henson concluded it couldn't work on the basis of the fact that the
> original problem is that sunlight pushes the powersats away from the
> sun. How is a solar sail supposed to stop that phenomenon, rather
> than simply exacerbate it?
>
Keith and I have corresponded on this. Keith has not run any sims on
the issue (that I know of). I have. The results are pretty simple:
its a fairly minor problem that can be dealt with by a little station
keeping.

>
> I think a solar sail would be a good idea for a powersat located at
> Sun-Earth L1 -- in fact,
>
The distances are MUCH greater, which is a big problem due to beam
spreading. Also, L1 is unstable. Light pressure is a much bigger
problem than in GEO.