Solar Sails

Solar sails are a type of spacecraft propulsion system that uses radiation pressure from sunlight to propel a spacecraft forward. The sail is made of a thin, reflective material that reflects sunlight, which exerts a small amount of force on the sail. Over time, this force can build up and accelerate the spacecraft to high speeds. Solar sails have the advantage of not requiring any fuel, making them ideal for long-duration missions. However, they are limited by the amount of sunlight available and the size of the sail. To overcome these limitations, some solar sail designs incorporate additional propulsion systems, such as electric thrusters or laser beams, to supplement the force from sunlight.
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