NASA's building a solar sail to propel space exploration

NASA's futuristic solar sail technology prototype is getting ready to launch to space this year. Like a sail on the ocean propels a boat with the wind, this space sail is meant to propel payloads by harnessing the pressure of sunlight.

Credit: NASA Ames Research Center

[SebastianWellsTL]

I remember this idea being proposed back in the 1970s. It's great to see it finally being developed.

[benjaminrickdonaldson]

Wow. Great to see they're investing in solar sails.

[danapeck]

My favorite propulsion technology, thanks

[Imperialistic]

If we can reach 25% the speed of light, how long will it take to reach Proxima Centauri?

[MichaelSkinner-ej]

We are going to need these as first probes if/when we start exploring the solar system in earnest. After we build cylinders and before they are sent

[royfriend]

You could travel only away from the sun right?

[christophersimonye]

What about space debris, anything can punch holes in it, how you going to steer it around to avoid the debris

[SebastianWellsTL]

Imagine something like this but massively scaled up!

[timothyshepodd]

Only 1 issue: how do you turn around and come home?

[sonrichard]

Fantastic idea but but but. Didn't James Webb get severly damaged just after 2 years and look how small compared. Still, can't wait to see.

[emilf]

I though they will use this to also explore other solar systems

[Chocoplays]

What happened with that tiny spacecraft project ... those are meant to accelerate by a Lacer .... they said that we can achieve 25% the speed of light ... Even Stephen Hawkins was involved in this project .... is that project canceled ?

[PopCapMusicTrending]

We had people landing on the moon before solar sails

[trsu]

These seem like the natural complement to those giant solar-in-space proposals, rather than using them to cook the Earth even more.

[anthonypettit]

Seems like that could be used to regulate the amount of solar energy hitting the earth if enough of those but many times bigger were put in a outer orbit past the moon and used as a solar sheild

[bostonraymudfloodadventures]

Anyone else notice that this entire video is C.G.I ??? Where is the real actual video of this sail in outer space ??? I want to see the blueprints and videos of the construction of this thing, and the actual videos of the test in a vacuum

[roidroid]

But whats new tho. This has been done. Whats new about it? There's gotta be something surely

[jabdul]

Bahahahhahahaha sail on sunlight. It has to get beyond low earth orbit 1st.

[MariaMartinez-researcher]

01:01. 33 × 33 *feet, * about the size of half a tennis court.
Not comparing it to a football court makes it sound more scientific? 🤣

[DanFrederiksen]

bla bla bla. ET ships are real, people. Could you be less sheepish already