Satellites In orbit are a big business. And sometimes one of the things that satellites have to do is to adjust their orbit. Typically, this is caused by some sort of reaction mass that is turned into thrust. The downside is that the satellite only has as much reaction mass as it was sent up with. When it runs out, it's not adjusting its orbit again, ever. loading...

How will this change?

A new startup in Bothell, (Four years is new, right?) has a new idea, that's really an old idea. In science fiction novels they had something they called a solar sail that would capture the “solar wind" and provide propulsion. This is a Very different concept which also requires reaction mass but is much more economical because it uses solar energy to expand its reaction mass to provide thrust.

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