Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony
The problem with a magsail for an interstellar probe is that it's actually a really really good brake. Which is nice for slowing down at your destination, but not helpful for the trip (thrust is not constant, it varies with the density of the medium and your speed relative to it).
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I know; that's why I double-checked how long this prospective magsail would take to brake this probe, which is several times longer than the total trip-time. I just have to nudge up applied thrust a percent or so to compensate.
(A larger magsail would, of course, provide more braking (as well as, presumably, more EM shielding); but I've only got so much available mass to spare inside this probe.)