Bill Nye Turns To Kickstarter Campaign To Fund Solar-Powered Spacecraft
L. P. Cabasag | | May 14, 2015 08:57 AM EDT |
(Photo : Kickstarter) Bill Nye turns to the Internet and asks everyone's help for the funding of LightSail, a very lightweight cube satellite that depends its energy from the sun to explore the space instead of heavy fuels used by spacecraft.
The Science Guy Bill Nye turns to the Internet and asks everyone's help for the funding of LightSail, a very lightweight cube satellite that depends its energy from the sun to explore the space instead of heavy fuels used by spacecraft. It is said that this will make space exploration attainable to the public.
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The Planetary Society CEO and former host of the TV show, "Bill Nye the Science Guy" launched "LightSail: A Revolutionary Solar Sailing Spacracft," at Kickstarter, a crowdfunding campaign site, with a pledged of $200,000 as its goal. The LightSail will be launch from the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in 2016, once the campaign reaches its goal, according to Time.
Nye said in the video in its Kickstarter page that they are advancing space by lowering the cost of sending spacecraft in space.
The Science Guy also said in the video that this is an invitation for everyone to be part of a space exploration. "I invite you to come along on a cosmic journey with me by participating in a mission to sail a spacecraft, a tiny CubeSat no bigger than a breadbox, on beams of light," Nye said.
LightSail is called "the people's spacecraft" since the fund will be raised from the public. LightSail and the organization led by Nye will send unmanned, tiny spacecraft to space for space exploration with the use of sun's radiation, MarketWatch reported.
The concept of solar sailing which is LightSail's main feature is originated by Carl Sagan's "solar sailer." Sagan promoted the idea by exploring the space by a sailer that relies energy from the sun. Moreover, the organization encouraged NASA to use technology with low cost.
"LightSail represents a major leap forward in the concept and technology of solar sailing. Through this program, we're making it possible for other groups, including NASA, to utilize this innovative propulsion technique on CubeSats and other small spacecraft-opening the door to a huge variety of low-cost missions throughout the solar system," Nye said in the Kickstarter campaign page.
Once the organization enables to raise fund for the project, LightSail will send to orbit to do its mission which is scheduled next year.
Tags Bill Nye, Kickstarter, Kickstarter campaign, Solar-powered spacecraft, space exploration, The Science Guy, carl sagan
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