Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2005
CONTACT:
Contact: Susan Lendroth
Voice: (626) 793-5100
Fax: (626) 793-5528
Email: tps@planetary.org
Contact: Warren Betts
WBC/ZoomWerks Media
Voice: (626) 836-2080
Email: warren@zoomwerks.com
Contact: Kristin Albro
Cosmos Studios
Voice: (607) 256-0007
Email: kalbro@carlsagan.com
Cosmos 1 Solar Sail Will Carry CD into Orbit
Pasadena, CA, — When Cosmos 1, the first solar sail spacecraft,
launches on June 21, 2005, it will carry into Earth orbit a CD containing
the names of over 75,000 members of The Planetary Society and the Japan Planetary
Society, along with the works of early visionaries who inspired solar sailing.
Cosmos 1 is a project of The Planetary Society and Cosmos Studios. Built
in Russia, it will launch atop a converted ICBM from a submerged Russian submarine
in the Barents Sea. Data obtained during the flight of Cosmos 1 will
assist the world space community in analyzing and developing future solar
sail technologies, such as those presaged on the CD in an historic essay by
F.A. Tsander and a science fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke. See the
full CD contents at http://www.planetary.org/solarsailcd/.
Cosmos 1 will be the first mission to test the concept of sailing on light,
using the pressure of photons to propel it through space. Reflected
light pressure will push against eight giant reflective blades, designed
to adjust to the continuously changing orbital energy and spacecraft velocity.
Ann Druyan, CEO of Cosmos Studios and Cosmos 1 Project Manager, and Louis
Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society and Cosmos 1 Project
Director, both have messages on the CD.
Druyan’s message says in part, “Our ancestors devised a means
to ride the winds across the high seas…The names of these ancient explorers
are lost to us. Today we honor their courage and genius with this first
flight of Cosmos 1.”
The spacecraft was built by the Lavochkin Association and the Space Research
Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Russia. These space
organizations are also investing in mission infrastructure to advance their
own space-sailing ambitions. The Russians have built a new, lightweight
spacecraft and utilized a low-cost launch system in a bid to develop a new
series of scientific spacecraft.
Solar Sail Watch, a program designed for the general public, will invite
people around the world to lend their help in tracking Cosmos 1 and photographing
its progress across the night sky. Once its sails unfurl, Cosmos 1 will
be bright enough to be easily visible to the naked eye. The Planetary
Society and Cosmos Studios urge everyone to witness this historic mission
first hand.
About the Planetary Society
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Planetary Society has inspired
millions of people to explore other worlds and seek other life. Today,
its international membership makes the non-governmental Planetary Society
the largest space interest group in the world. Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray
and Louis Friedman founded The Planetary Society in 1980. Learn more about
The Planetary Society by exploring our innovative
projects.
About Cosmos Studios
Cosmos Studios was founded in 2000 by Ann Druyan, Joe Firmage and Kent Gibson,
to create science-based entertainment designed to engage the broadest possible
television, film and Internet audience. Among its achievements thus far
are the DVD of the epochal 13-part television series COSMOS and the documentary
films 'COSMIC AFRICA" and "COSMIC JOURNEY," which was nominated
for the Emmy Award for the best long form science documentary in 2004. Cosmos
Studios is based in Ithaca, New York.
The Planetary Society
65 N. Catalina Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91106-2301 USA
Web: www.planetary.org
Voice: (626) 793-5100
Fax: (626) 793-5528
Email: tps@planetary.org
Cosmos Studios
17 Observatory Circle
Ithaca, NY 14850-2950
Web: www.solarsail.org
Voice: (607) 256-0007
Fax: (607) 256-0066
Email: quick@carlsagan.com
#####
|
[ what is this? ]