[Geoldept] LightSail launch: Wed May 20 @ 7:45am

[Melissa Rice]

Come watch the launch of LightSail early next Wednesday morning, May 20 in CF 386!

The Planetary Society is launching their first test of LightSail - a satellite that will unfold enormous Mylar sheets that can "sail" through the Solar System using sunlight. This is a new technology that could revolutionize space travel - for more details, look here: http://sail.planetary.org/

There will be a viewing party on Wednesday morning, starting at 7:00am with free coffee and bagels donated by the Planetary Society. We'll have a discussion of solar sailing and show some short videos about LightSail, and then we'll watch the launch scheduled for 7:45am (but if there's a launch delay, we'll stick around until 9am or so).

Hope to see you there!
Melissa

PS - The launch will be live-streamed here: http://sail.planetary.org/missioncontrol

PPS - You can send a selfie to space with the LightSail mission, but do it soon!
http://www.planetary.org/get-involved/messages/lightsail/submit-your-name.html

--
Melissa S. Rice
Assistant Professor of Planetary Science
Geology Department
Physics and Astronomy Department
Western Washington University
516 High St., MS 9080
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 650-3592

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