Planetary Society Letter Regarding New Solar Sail Project
Dear Members,
The Planetary Society and its Members took a bold and daring step in creating and launching the world’s first-ever solar sail spacecraft.
We were all incredibly proud. Indeed, in the hours following Cosmos 1’s historic launch from a Russian ICBM rocket on June 21, 2005 as we awaited word on its fate, we received thousands of comments like this one from a longtime Society Member:
“Keep up the faith, you guys. No complex feat of engineering ever goes smoothly! Even if the worst occurs, be proud of the fact that you were audacious enough to try. I have never been prouder to be a Member of the Society than today.”
As you probably know now, the worst occurred — the launch vehicle failed.
We were, of course, saddened by the loss. But something has happened which even I, as perhaps the world’s biggest solar sail enthusiast, did not expect. Millions of people from around the globe — Members, scientists, engineers, amateur sky-watchers, international media and much of the public — were right there with us wishing us well and anxiously following reports directly from the launch team through the web, television coverage and newspaper reports.
This was the first opportunity for ordinary citizens to participate in virtually every aspect of a full-blown, private space mission, from design of the craft through construction, all the way to launch. And it excited and engaged people all over the world in the Society’s intrepid mission of discovery.
Losing Cosmos 1 was a tough blow. But even though this was our first attempt, in no way is this the last time we aim for the stars.
From all over the Earth, the messages have been pouring in to the Society, and nearly all of them calling for the same thing: “Let’s build the next solar sail!”
Even the NASA engineers who are working on solar sail technology — with no current flight plan — are urging us to try again.
And that’s just what we plan to do — if we can gather the funds from our own Members and energize private citizens around the world. In fact, we feel confident that we can fly again — perhaps as soon as the end of next year — if two things happen immediately: First, as I said, we need to secure funding for a new solar sail. And second, we need to find a more reliable launch vehicle. We will not fly on a Volna again.
In order to get going now, we’ll use our existing and experienced team. But we must raise $250,000 right away to start the spacecraft work and negotiate with new launch vehicle suppliers, and to keep from losing our momentum. These are the first steps.
So please make a special, extra-effort donation to make possible our pioneering quest to successfully test this innovative technology that could change the way the world’s space agencies look at interstellar flight.
Contribute to the mission at: https://planetary.org/donations.html
For all the projects we’ve done over the decades — from SETI to the Mars Rovers and Mars Microphone, from linking space scientists in other countries with those in the U.S., to advocating missions to Mars and Pluto and Europa, and much, much more — nothing has ever before brought forth the kind of spontaneous, grassroots reaction that our pioneering Cosmos 1 solar sail mission has.
Clearly, everyone believes that no one else has had the drive, the persistence, or the capability to take bold-but-intelligent risks to do what the Society has done…and will do again.
Three years ago, in a letter about the solar sail mission to all our Members, I wrote that success was certainly not guaranteed. After all, “going to the stars is one of the most technologically complex and challenging things humanity has ever tried to do.”
I believed then, as I believe now, space is a very tough place. Exploring it constantly pushes us to the absolute limits of our creativity and innovation, testing us like nothing else. NASA knows this, as do all who have tried to enter space.
The Society will not quit. With supporters like you at our side we are again up for the challenge. I promise that your contribution will be immediately put to work creating a new solar sail and an even better chance at revolutionizing exploration through interstellar flight.
So please let me hear back from you right away. Thanking you in advance,
Louis Friedman Executive Director
Help us Create a New Solar Sail at: https://planetary.org/donations.html
P.S. In this month’s Planetary Report you will find an updated report on the Volna failure and the loss of Cosmos 1.
You can also read the update online at: http://planetary.org/solarsail/update_20050930.html
