solar sails
Light-driven spacecraft wings
Solar sails are a proposed method of spacecraft propulsion using large, thin reflective surfaces to catch pressure from sunlight or stellar radiation.
Like wind sails on ships, they would provide continuous acceleration without fuel, potentially enabling interstellar travel: The probe would unfurl its solar sails once it cleared Earth's orbit.
Thorough examination or tool
- interstellar travelVoyaging between distant suns
- deep spaceRemote regions beyond planets
- orbitCurved celestial path
- rendezvousScheduled meeting at agreed location
payload · NASA · interplanetary · Alpha Centauri · gossamer
Forceful forward motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- sailcraftWind-propelled water vessel
- reflectiveCasting back light
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
attitude control · trajectory · delta-v · deployment · unfurling
Trademarked polyester film
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- ultrathinExtremely minimal thickness
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- reflective coatingLayer that bounces light
carbon fiber · booms · tensioning · micrometeorite · durability · ripstop · nanomaterials
probe
Thorough examination or tool
- interstellar travelVoyaging between distant suns
- deep spaceRemote regions beyond planets
- orbitCurved celestial path
rendezvous · payload · NASA · interplanetary · Alpha Centauri · gossamer
thrust
Forceful forward motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- sailcraftWind-propelled water vessel
- reflectiveCasting back light
albedo · attitude control · trajectory · delta-v · deployment · unfurling
Mylar
Trademarked polyester film
reflective coating · carbon fiber · booms · tensioning · micrometeorite · durability · ripstop · nanomaterials
- future techAI, drones, robots, autonomous vehicles, VR
- space fictionscience fiction, spaceship, sci-fi, astronaut, space adventure
- Futurismjetpacks, holograms, robots, androids, cyborgs
- generation shipscolonists, descendants, life support, cryo chamber, hull
- spacecraftspacecraft, starships, spaceship, Voyager 1, rocket ships
- sci-fi conceptstime travel, space exploration, faster-than-light, generation ships, multiverse