Space Sailing: Some

Technical Aspects

The first three parts of this book have described solar sailing and sailcraft, as

well as the design problems, the unknowns, new perspectives, and the

expectations that a revolution in space propulsion and vehicle design may be

one of the main keys for an extended exploration and utilization of space

within a few decades. The level of topic presentation was kept as simple as

possible to provide nontechnical readers with basic information in every

major area of space sailing without becoming involved in the underlying

mathematical constructs.

However, like any area of science and technology, a deeper knowledge

entails higher concepts and a more appropriate language. The universal

language of science is mathematics. In general, different though inter-

connected mathematical disciplines are used for addressing specific topics.

A problem may be dealt with through many steps, each step obeying the

underlying set of different and progressive assumptions of the current

model.

Part IV is intended for more technical readers, in particular for

undergraduate students in physics, engineering, and mathematics. However,

the math has been kept to a simple level. To read the following chapters

requires a modest background in physics, and elementary calculus is also

advisable. The following chapters should be viewed as a short introduction

for students interested in the dynamics of solar sailing as part of their future

professional activity. In such a context, all the topics addressed in this book

could also aid the reader to get a sufficiently general view of the problems

related to both solar-sail spaceflight and the next steps of the endless human

adventure in space.

IV