Solar Sails

Part I: Space Engines: Past and Present.- A Historical Introduction to Space Propulsion.- The Rocket: How It Works in Space.- Rocket Problems and Limitations- Non-Rocket-In-Space Propulsion.- The Solar-Sail Option: From the Oceans to Space.- Part II: Space Mission by Sail.- Principles of Space Sailing.- What Is a Space Sailcraft?- Sails vs. Rockets.- Exploring and Developing Space by Sailcraft.- Riding a Beam of Light.- Part III: Construction of Sailcraft.- Designing a Solar Sail.- Building a Sailcraft.- Progress to Date.- Future Plans.- Part IV: Breakthroughs in Space.- The IKAROS/JAXA Mission.- The NanoSail-D2/NASA Mission.- New Projects in Progress.- Part V: Space Sailing: Some Technical Aspects.- Space Sources of Light.- Modeling Thrust via Electromagnetic Radiation Pressure and Diffraction- Sailcraft Trajectories.- Sails in Space Environment.- Glossary.- Index.

Dr. Giovanni Vulpetti received his Ph.D. in Plasma Physics in 1973. He has spent much of his professional life studying the concepts underlying interstellar flight, astrodynamics and space propulsion and in particular matter-antimatter annihilation propulsion. In 2001, he served as a consultant at NASA/MSFC for the Interstellar Probe project. From 1995 to 2011, he has been a member of the IAA Committee for Lunar Base and Mars Exploration. To date, he has published 115 research papers and reports, and two books about Solar Sailing in July 2008 (Springer, Copernicus Books) and in August 2012 (Springer, Space Technology Library). Since 1994 he is a Full Member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Dr. Les Johnson is the Deputy Manager for NASA's Advanced Concepts Office at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. He was the co-investigator on a Japanese space tether experiment that flew in August 2010. Les was the Chief Scientist for the ProSEDS space experiment, twice received NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal, and holds three space technology patents. He managed NASA's Interstellar Propulsion Research Project, the In-Space Propulsion Technology Program and the Science Programs & Projects Office. He is also the co-author of two science fiction and three popular science books. Baen Books published Les' first science fiction novel, Back to the Moon, (written with co-author Travis Taylor) in January 2012. In June, Baen released his latest science fiction project, Going Interstellar a collection of original short stories and science fact essays describing how an interstellar voyage might actually occur. In his day job, he is the co-author of three published popular science books, Living Off the Land in Space, Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel and Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth. He earned his Master's degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and his Bachelor's Degree from Transylvania University in Lexington,