LightSail

LightSail is a small spacecraft developed by The Planetary Society to demonstrate solar sail technology. It uses the pressure of sunlight—photons from the Sun—to generate propulsion, eliminating the need for fuel. Once deployed in space, its large, reflective sail catches sunlight, creating gentle but continuous thrust that can gradually change the spacecraft’s orbit. This innovative approach offers a potential cost-effective and sustainable way to travel through space, enabling long-distance missions without carrying heavy fuel loads. LightSail showcases how harnessing solar energy can enable spacecraft to navigate beyond Earth's orbit efficiently.