Solar sail

A solar sail is a space propulsion technology that uses large, reflective sheets—similar to sails on a boat—to harness the pressure of sunlight. Photons from the Sun carry momentum; when they strike the sail, they transfer some of this momentum, producing a gentle but continuous thrust. Over time, this makes the spacecraft gradually accelerate without fuel, allowing for long-distance travel within the solar system and beyond. Solar sails offer a sustainable and efficient way to propel spacecraft, leveraging sunlight as a limitless energy source for propulsion in space.