Scientists propose using dynamic soaring, a seabird flying technique, for much faster spacecraft propulsion.
The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and flow.Professor Higgins:
IE: In what region of space would dynamic soaring be most useful, and what would be the propulsion tech to get the craft to this region? To get to these regions of the solar system, a spacecraft could just be dragged up to the solar wind speed using a type of magnetic parachute called the plasma magnet. Once it encounters regions of shear, the spacecraft can begin the dynamic soaring technique.
Birds and gliders were our inspiration for this project. Dynamic soaring as practiced by birds was noted as far back as the 16th Century in the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. There are credible accounts of seabirds, such as albatrosses flying halfway around the world without ever flapping their wings by using dynamic soaring.
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