light sail
Spacecraft solar wing
A light sail is a large, thin membrane designed to propel a spacecraft using radiation pressure from sunlight or directed laser beams.
Unlike conventional rockets that carry fuel, light sails harness the momentum of photons striking their reflective surface: The probe unfurled its light sail once it cleared Earth's atmosphere.
The concept enables interstellar travel concepts since no onboard propellant is needed.
Also called solar sail when powered by sunlight.
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- spaceshipVehicle for interplanetary travel
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
Carl Sagan · Johannes Kepler · deep space · cosmic voyage · space travel · space vehicle · Alpha Centauri · exploration · solar energy · laser beam · momentum · reflection · reflective surface · thin film · radiation · photon · electromagnetic wave · carbon nanotube
light sailrocket engine
Aerospace thrust generator
chemical rocket · ion thruster · combustion engine · solid rocket booster · jet engine
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