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164 points pseudolus | 7 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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FredPret ◴[] No.42475004[source]
If KSP is to be believed, this is shockingly difficult to do
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beAbU ◴[] No.42475235[source]
In order to 'land' on the sun, or any celestial body, you need to get rid of your orbital speed. Higher orbital speed means higher orbit altitude. Landing on earth is comparatively easy, because you can use the atmospheric drag to slow down. It is so difficult to land on Mars because of it's thin atmosphere. Alternatively you need a shitload of fuel to burn to kill that velocity.

Earth's orbital velcity is ~30km/s. So by extension, anything that comes from Earth will at least have that speed. So the probe needs to find 30km/s delta v in order to actually get close to the sun.

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1. nostromo ◴[] No.42475867[source]
You could use a solar sail to project a satellite towards the sun.
replies(1): >>42476123 #
2. Jeff_Brown ◴[] No.42476123[source]
How do you sail into the solar wind?
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3. tedunangst ◴[] No.42476201[source]
Just need a triangular sail and some zigzagging.
replies(1): >>42476290 #
4. mtreis86 ◴[] No.42476290{3}[source]
Tacking doesn't work without water and a keel
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5. gpm ◴[] No.42476336[source]
You sail perpendicular to the wind, cancelling your horizontal velocity relative to the sun.

Then gravity crashes you into the sun

6. Terr_ ◴[] No.42476429[source]
Perhaps a sacrificial solar mirror that detaches from the main ship.

While the unfolded mirror is pushed moving away from the Sun, it reflects enough light for the smaller main body to accelerate sunward.

7. dan_linder ◴[] No.42476850{4}[source]
Won't the crafts relative motion (relative to desired travel) provide the same effective force as the water+keel?