Re: Fuel, Ramjets, and the Darwin Awards (was Re: in 'defense' of FT missiles... ;-) )

hosford donald writes:

@:) The idea is this: Start with a loop of superconducting wire about
@:) 35 miles across.  Have bracing wires connect it to the ship like
@:) spokes of a wheel.	Apply power to the loop.  It should hold the
@:) charge for quite a while.  The wire now generates a magnetic
@:) field.  You can adjust the angle of the sail, and tack on the
@:) solar wind just like a sail boat!
@:) 
@:) Ships can cruise the solar system, without rocket fuel!

  This is pretty much the same idea as a solar sail.  I think there
is an advantage in that the solar wind has more energy than the
photons coming from the sun, so you can move faster.  On the other
hand, you have to power the magnetic sail.  It might be possible to do
that with a big solar panel, though.

-joachim