solar sail
Light-pushed spacecraft
A solar sail is a large, thin membrane designed to propel a spacecraft using radiation pressure from sunlight.
Like a wind sail catches air, a solar sail catches photons—light particles impart tiny amounts of momentum when they strike or reflect off the surface.
The thrust is minuscule but continuous, allowing gradual acceleration without fuel: The probe unfurled its solar sail after reaching orbit.
Vehicle for outer space
- photonsDiscrete packets of radiance
- thrustForceful forward motion
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- accelerationRate velocity changes
velocity · beam · reflectivity · trajectory · maneuver · attitude control · deployment · membrane
Ultra-shallow material layer
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- boomLoud deep sound
- tensioningIncreasing tightness by pulling
- foldingBending something over itself
packaging · attitude control · nanosatellite · materials science · ripstop · substrate · payload · NASA
Between celestial bodies
- heliocentricSun as orbital center
- MarsRed planet, war deity
- polar orbitPath crossing both poles
- HalleyAstronomer's surname, comet fame
reconnaissance · mapping · mission · deep space · outer planets
Closest star system
- light-yearAstronomical distance measure
- relativisticConcerning high-speed physics
- ProximaClosest in position
- decelerationDecrease in speed
flyby · generation ship · Voyager · Pioneer · deep space · cosmic ray · heliosphere · interplanetary
Wave-propagating energy through space
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- inverse square lawQuantity diminishes as distance squared
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
electromagnetic spectrum · optics · irradiance · flux · incident light
spacecraft
Vehicle for outer space
acceleration · velocity · beam · reflectivity · trajectory · maneuver · attitude control · deployment · membrane · mylar
thin-film
Ultra-shallow material layer
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- boomLoud deep sound
- tensioningIncreasing tightness by pulling
folding · packaging · attitude control · nanosatellite · materials science · ripstop · substrate · payload · NASA · prototype
interplanetary
Between celestial bodies
- heliocentricSun as orbital center
- MarsRed planet, war deity
- polar orbitPath crossing both poles
Halley · reconnaissance · mapping · mission · deep space · outer planets
Alpha Centauri
Closest star system
- light-yearAstronomical distance measure
- relativisticConcerning high-speed physics
- ProximaClosest in position
deceleration · flyby · generation ship · Voyager · Pioneer · deep space · cosmic ray · heliosphere · interplanetary · trajectory
electromagnetic radiation
Wave-propagating energy through space
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- inverse square lawQuantity diminishes as distance squared
luminosity · electromagnetic spectrum · optics · irradiance · flux · incident light
- space travelspaceship, starship, spacecraft, astronaut, rocket
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
- Space Propulsionhyperdrive, warp drive, jump drive, rocket engine, nuclear propulsion
- Solar Sailslight pressure, reflectivity, spin stabilization, mast
- Electric propulsionion engine, ion thruster
- spacespace, sun, moon, stars, star
solar sailrocket engine
Aerospace thrust generator
chemical rocket · ion thruster · combustion engine · solid rocket booster · jet engine
sail, solo, sailor, sailing, solar, sailed, sailboat, solitaire, parasol