Not Shiny

Not Shiny

Originally shared by Jennifer Ouellette

Engineers Stumble on a Whole New Method of Laser-Based Spacecraft Propulsion http://motherboard.vice.com/read/engineers-stumble-on-a-whole-new-method-of-laser-based-spacecraft-propulsion 
"The key, according to the Nankai University-based group, is in swapping out the mirrored sail—which captures photonic energy as radiation pressure in much the same way a regular air-sail captures wind energy—for a pure-black graphene sponge. Rather than reflect off of the sail, light is absorbed by the sponge, which converts that energy into propulsion." 
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/engineers-stumble-on-a-whole-new-method-of-laser-based-spacecraft-propulsion

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