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June 21, 2005

Solar Sailing

This announcement has everyone from the Instapundit on down all a-twitter. But if you look at the graphic illustrating the project, anybody would recognise it as this:

From 23 years ago, a little movie called 'Tron'. (Never saw it? Oh! Please do.)

Posted by tree hugging sister at June 21, 2005 02:32 PM

Comments

Here's a somewhat more informative article in Pravda. Pretty dang neat. Read this classic SF book for info on the solar sail.
Neat Neat Neat.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 21, 2005 03:18 PM

Too cool. Let's hope it works!

Posted by: Crusader at June 21, 2005 04:27 PM

They talked about that in the original 'Planet of the Apes' book and probably before that.

Posted by: Major Dad at June 21, 2005 06:55 PM

More info on this at the Planetary Society

Although, most of the coverage that I've seen/read has missed this particular point -

"2. Who is funding it?

The project is being funded by Cosmos Studios, a new science-based media and entertainment venture by Ann Druyan, the wife of our co-founder, the late Carl Sagan. The Planetary Society also gratefully acknowledges the donation of Mr. Peter Lewis of Cleveland, Ohio, and the many contributions of Society members around the world."

Carl Sagan, and Ann Druyan, should be front and centre on the coverage.

And I will note that the website's attempt at providing info on observing the sail isn't very effective.

Posted by: peteb at June 21, 2005 07:14 PM

"Billions and billions" of people are funding it...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 21, 2005 07:16 PM

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 21, 2005 07:18 PM

Tron rocked. I also hear rumors of a sequel. David Warner as Sark may have been my favorite thing in that movie: together with playing Evil in Time Bandits, he really nailed the "British-deadpan-in-ridiculous-costume" thing.

Posted by: Dave J at June 21, 2005 09:50 PM

"End of line".

Bwahahahaha!!!

Posted by: tree hugging sister at June 21, 2005 10:40 PM

David Warner, gosh. He was also Billy Zane's private Creepy Guy in Titanic, and a Klingon (even a 'good' Klingon is a Klingon!) in Trek 6... You think that casting directors just have him on speed dial? "We need a cultured heavy! Is Warner in town this week?"

Posted by: Nightfly at June 22, 2005 02:20 PM