light sail
NASA’s Next Solar Sail is About to Go to Space
Everyone knows that solar energy is free and almost limitless here on Earth. The same is true for spacecraft operating…
What a Swarm of Probes Can Teach Us About Proxima Centauri B
You've likely heard of the Breakthrough Starshot (BTS) initiative. BTS aims to send tiny gram-scale, light sail picospacecraft to our…
Photonic Crystals Could Be Exactly What Breakthrough Starshot is Looking For
Light sail technology is a fascinating concept and a step change in rocket propulsion. It may not be big and…
Birds use Dynamic Soaring to Pick Up Velocity. We Could Use a Similar Trick to Go Interstellar
A new proposal for an interstellar mission shows how a solar sail could use the same technique birds do to…
Laser-Powered Sails Would be Great for Exploring the Solar System too
A new study from UCLA shows how laser-driven light sails could be a cost-effective method for exploring the Solar System…
If Launched by 2028, a Spacecraft Could Catch up With Oumuamua in 26 Years
A new study by the Institute of Interstellar Studies (i4is) shows that with the right maneuver, a spacecraft could catch…
Want the Fastest Solar Sail? Drop it Into the Sun First
A new study from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy shows how a "Sun Diver," a light sail that dives…
What’s the Best Way to Sail From World to World? Electric Sails or Solar Sails?
A new study compares two potential means of interstellar exploration, which could have implications for both space exploration and the…
Planetary Society’s Light Sail 2 is Set to Launch on a Falcon Heavy Rocket Next Month
The Planetary Society is going to launch their LightSail 2 CubeSat next month. LightSail 2 is a test mission designed…
Could ‘Oumuamua Be an Extraterrestrial Solar Sail?
A new study by researchers from the CfA offers a compelling explanation for 'Oumuamua strange appearance and behavior - could…