L4, L5 Gravity Wells

Would Earth's magnetosphere have any effect? I read an article recently
by Robert Zubrin where he proposed a magsail concept using the
magnetoshere to accelerate a spacecraft out of LEO. Whould there be
similar forces at the lagrange points?

>
> > Is it the solar wind? I imagine that might have a non-negligible effect
> > on thin metallic foil, compared to such a weak gravitational effect.
> >
> Almost correct, but not quite.
>
> Probably worth three points :-)
>
> The solar wind is a stream of subatomic particles and exerts a
> negligible force.
>
> However, radiation pressure from sunlight exerts a substantial force
> hundreds of times stronger than the solar wind.
>
> Each of the bits of chaff would also be a mini-solar sail. Figuring
> out how much of the motion is caused by gravity and how much caused by
> radiation pressure would be practically impossible.
>
> Radar bounces would also cause some pressure, but a lot less than
> sunlight, that would also be worth about another 3 points :-)
>

Robin Chew
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