NASA is pioneering light propulsion technology, particularly via solar sails that convert solar emissions into spacecraft thrust. Recent advances from Caltech researchers focus on ultra-thin membrane performance to enable miniature probes' interstellar travel. The concept utilizes radiation pressure from light as a propelling force, a theory established by Maxwell. Researchers aim to quantify how these membranes react to laser radiation, addressing critical challenges such as durability under heat, shape retention, and stability during operations to create efficient lightsails for future exploration.
The research aims to understand how ultra-thin membranes respond to radiation pressure, vital for developing solar sails that enable interstellar travel.
Harry Atwater emphasizes the challenges of creating a viable lightsail, which must endure heat, maintain shape, and remain stable under laser propulsion.
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