SOLAR SAIL EXPEDITION TO THE MOON AND MARS Mission Update

摘要

An international scientific solar sail expedition and "race" to the Moon is planned for 1994.Participants from the United States, Europe and Japan are presently completing their spacecraftdesigns and arranging sponsorship. In 1990, a team led by the Los Angeles-based World SpaceFoundation was selected to represent "The Americas" and to participate in the so-calledChristopher Columbus 500 Space Sail Cup to Mars. Now an arrangement has evolved whereby the"race" will be at least as much a scientific expedition.AMSAT-NA has primary responsibility for the Solar Sail Race Vehicle (SSRV) avionic systemsand tracking. As one of seven technical partners in the Solar Sail Project, AMSAT is to providecommunications equipment and electronics for the spacecraft, with much of it based on Microsatand Phase Ⅲ experience.