// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Solar Sail
A solar sail is a type of spacecraft propulsion that uses the pressure of sunlight to push a large, reflective membrane, similar to how wind pushes a sailboat. This method allows a spacecraft to travel without needing to carry heavy fuel.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A solar sail is an innovative spacecraft propulsion system employing ultra-thin, highly reflective membranes to harness photon momentum from solar radiation pressure for continuous, propellant-less thrust. This method facilitates deep-space exploration and orbital maneuvers by converting incident light into kinetic energy, enabling sustained acceleration over extended mission durations.
BACKGROUND
Solar sails are a method of spacecraft propulsion using radiation pressure exerted by sunlight on large surfaces. A number of spaceflight missions to test solar propulsion and navigation have been proposed since the 1980s. The two spacecraft to successfully use the technology for propulsion were IKAROS, launched in 2010, and LightSail-2, launched in 2019. A further demonstrator, Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3), was launched in 2024, and deployed successfully but is not being actively controlled due to a fault.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Photon Sail
- Light Sail
- Radiation Pressure Sail
- Sun Sail
USAGE NOTE
Solar sails are primarily considered for long-duration, low-thrust deep space missions or for maintaining orbits without expending conventional propellant.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Solar Sail.
NASA actively develops and tests solar sail technology for various missions, including the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout) and the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) which aims to demonstrate the deployment of a larger solar sail.
JAXA successfully developed and demonstrated solar sail propulsion with its IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) mission, which became the first spacecraft to successfully use solar sail technology in interplanetary space.
A non-profit organization that successfully crowdfunded and managed the LightSail 1 and LightSail 2 missions, demonstrating the practical application of solar sail technology for CubeSats.
DLR conducts extensive research and development in advanced space propulsion concepts, including solar sail technology, for future space exploration and science missions.
ESA investigates and studies solar sail concepts for potential future missions, particularly for deep space exploration and missions requiring sustained low-thrust propulsion without propellant.
Through its various research groups and departments, the University of Colorado Boulder is actively involved in the research, design, and development of solar sail systems, often in partnership with NASA and other space organizations.
The Aerospace Corporation provides independent technical expertise and objective research and development for national security space programs, which includes exploring and developing advanced propulsion technologies like solar sails.