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The total force exerted on an 800 by 800 metres (2,600 by 2,600 ft) solar sail, for example, is about 5 N (1.1 lbf) at Earth's distance from the Sun, [3] making it a low-thrust propulsion system, similar to spacecraft propelled by electric engines, but as it uses no propellant, that force is exerted almost constantly and the collective effect ...
A preliminary mission outline suggests the use of solar sails [4] propelled by high energy lasers to increase propulsion. [4] The proposed launch would be on the 100th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. [6] The spacecraft would reach Alpha Centauri by the year 2113, 44 years after its launch travelling at 10% of the speed of light. [3]
The closest system is Alpha Centauri, with Proxima Centauri as the closest star in that system, at 4.2465 light-years from Earth. The brightest, most massive and most luminous object among those 131 is Sirius A , which is also the brightest star in Earth's night sky ; its white dwarf companion Sirius B is the hottest object among them.
A laser communicator, utilizing the light sail as the primary reflector, would be capable of data rates of 2.6-15 baud per watt of transmitted power at the distance to Alpha Centauri, assuming a 30 m diameter receiving telescope on Earth.
The distance of Alpha Centauri from the Earth is now reckoned at 4.396 light-years or 4.159 × 10 13 km.) α Centauri A (left) is of the same stellar type G2 as the Sun, while α Centauri B (right) is a K1-type star. [67] Later, John Herschel made the first micrometrical observations in 1834. [68]
The addition of the Alpha Centauri Obelisk made it the world's largest exhibition, [2] [3] until the Akaa Solar System Scale Model added Proxima Centauri in 2018 at a distance of 13,370 kilometres (8,310 mi) away from Akaa.
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Also the tenth-nearest star system to our Solar System. Has one confirmed exoplanet: 61 Cygni: A 11.404: K5V [60] 0.665 ± 0.005 [61] 0.7 [62] 5.21 [63] 7.506 [64] The first star to have its distance to Earth measured after the Sun. Also the 15th nearest stellar system to our solar system. B K7V [60] 0.595 ± 0.008 [61] 0.63 [62] 6.05 [65] 8. ...