Solar Radiation Pressure


Solar Radiation Pressure is the force exerted on a spacecraft or satellite by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. This radiation exerts a pressure on any surface it strikes, and in the vacuum of space, this pressure can cause a small but significant force on a spacecraft. Solar Radiation Pressure can affect the attitude, trajectory, and orbit of a spacecraft, and must be taken into account in the design and operation of any spacecraft or satellite. The magnitude of the force depends on the size, shape, and reflectivity of the spacecraft, as well as the distance from the sun and the intensity of the solar radiation.


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