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STEPS IN THE RACE TO
OUTER SPACE. The large circular objects are Solar Wind Ships, capable
of carrying astro- nauts on fuel-less journeys through the solar system,
using the Sun's expanding flood of radiation—or "trade winds"—as a direct
propulsive force. The trade winds are harnessed by sails of plastic film,
coated with shiny evaporated aluminum. A flotilla of manned Solar Wind
Ships is approaching Saturn. To the right is Titan, largest of Saturn's
nine moons and the only satellite in the solar system known to have an
atmos- phere. A crew of astronauts enters a small ferry-rocket, towed
behind the Wind Ship. Since the Wind Ship cannot land on any planet, they
will explore Titan in the Atomic-powered rocket, then rejoin the fleet for
the remainder of the trip to Saturn. |
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