NOTE FROM JOHN:

The most recent test of a solar sail failed miserably.
Even if they do someday get them to work, there
are more problems waiting to be encountered…

The Top 8 Unexpected
Problems in Solar Sailing

8> In space, no one can hear Jimmy Buffet playing on the portable stereo.

7> Having to regress the jargon from “Do you copy” and “You are go for orbital insertion” to “Avast there, ye lubbers!” and “Raise the yard arm, damn your eyes, and stand ready on the fo’c’sle!”

6> Nowhere to store the 160,000 miles of rope needed for the anchor.

5> Constantly have to watch out for Greenpeace demonstrators protesting your spoiling of the vacuum of space.

4> The Space Shuttle never yields the right of way when heading out of the channel.

3> It’s not so much the heat as the… well, ok, it’s the heat.

2> The massive wake from Dennis Tito’s ego is *still* screwing up navigation up there.

and the Number 1 Unexpected Problem in Solar Sailing…

1> Starboard? Which direction *isn’t* starboard?

.

Credits:

Selected from 33 submissions from 11 contributors.
Today’s Top 5 List authors are:

Joseph Moore, Concord, CA — 1 (3rd #1)
Travis Ruetenik, Honolulu, HI — 2
Steve Thomas, Atlanta, GA — 3
Slick Sharkey, Miami, FL — 4, 8
Peter Heltzer, Wheeling, IL — 5, 6, HM list name
Guy Payne, Birmingham, AL — 7
Mary Ann McDonald, Sacramento, CA — RU list name
John Mozena, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI — Prime Director