Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Solar Cruiser’s sail is a whopping 17,800 square feet in size. Shown here is a recent unfurling of one quadrant (a test article) of Solar Cruiser’s huge sail.
Image credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center

Solar sailing has been a slow-motion affair, but the concept is meant to be just that!

The idea is not to use classic and conventional “gas guzzling” propulsion. Rather, the notion is to employ ever-present and energetic solar photons to nudge you through space. Over time, this steady thrust from sunlight can move the spacecraft to very high speeds.

Last picture show. The Planetary Society’s publicly-funded LightSail 2 spacecraft returned this final image on October 24, 2022 before atmospheric reentry.
Image credit: The Planetary Society

Promising attributes

Harnessing this technology, now being pursued by multiple nations, is anticipated to permit a low-cost pathway to matchless exploration of the outer solar system and interstellar space.

Advocacy aside, the promising attributes of the scheme has been a work-in-progress for many years – and sometimes it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

For more information, got to my new Space.com story – “Solar-sailing probes may soon get their moment in the sun” – at:

https://www.space.com/solar-sail-spacecraft-development-progress