Radiation Pressure


Radiation pressure is the pressure exerted upon any surface exposed to electromagnetic radiation. In space and astronautical engineering, radiation pressure is an important factor to consider when designing spacecraft and their components. The pressure can cause damage to sensitive equipment and can also be harnessed for propulsion. Radiation pressure is caused by the transfer of momentum from photons to the surface they strike. This momentum transfer can be calculated using the Poynting-Robertson effect or the Yarkovsky effect, depending on the size and composition of the object. Radiation pressure is also a factor in the design of solar sails, which use the pressure from sunlight to propel a spacecraft. The ability to accurately predict and control radiation pressure is crucial for the success of many space missions.


Your Previous Searches
Random Picks

  • Ionized Gases: Ionized gases are gases that have been energized to the point where some or all of the atoms have lost one or more electrons, resulting in the formation of ions. In space and astronautical engineering, ionized gases are of particular intere ... Read More >>
  • Terrestrial-based Transmitters: In the context of aerospace engineering, terrestrial-based transmitters refer to ground-based systems that send signals or data to spacecraft, satellites, or other space-based receivers. These transmitters are a critical component of the gr ... Read More >>
  • Sensitivity Analysis: Sensitivity analysis is a technique used in space and astronautical engineering to determine how different values of an independent variable can affect a particular dependent variable under a given set of assumptions. It involves varying on ... Read More >>
Top News

Astronomers spot the most massive black hole jets ever observed...

Astronomers have spotted a massive pair of jets releasing material from a distant black hole. The jets are so large they span about 140 Milky Way galaxies in length....

News Source: CNN on 2024-09-25

'How did we get here?' NASA hopes 'artificial star' can teach us more about the ...

In a $19.5 million NASA-funded mission, a team at George Mason University is heading a project to construct and launch a small satellite into orbit....

News Source: USA Today on 2024-09-22

Earth to get a mini-moon for two months, but what is it?...

Earth will get its very own 'mini-moon' which will remain in orbit for two months later this year....

News Source: Al Jazeera English on 2024-09-21

Earth is about to have a temporary ‘mini-moon’...

A temporary “mini-moon” will whirl around Earth for about two months as our planet’s gravity captures a small asteroid named 2024 PT5 in its orbit....

News Source: CNN on 2024-09-20

Astronomy Photographer of the Year showcases world's best space images...

See the world's best space images from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 award...

News Source: New Scientist on 2024-09-19