What is a solar sail?
Q: What is a solar sail?
A: A solar sail (or light sails or photon sails) is a proposed method of spacecraft propulsion using radiation pressure exerted by sunlight.
Q: Who first proposed the concept of a solar sail?
A: The concept was first proposed in the 17th century by Johannes Kepler.
Q: What did James Clerk Maxwell publish that provided the foundation for the science behind the solar sail?
A: James Clerk Maxwell published his theory of electromagnetic fields and radiation, which showed that light (one form of electromagnetic radiation) can put pressure on an object, known as radiation pressure.
Q: How does solar pressure act on spacecraft?
A: Solar pressure acts on spacecraft, in space or in orbit around a planet, displacing them thousands of kilometers and affecting their orientation.
Q: When was this effect first taken into account when planning interplanetary missions?
A: This has been done since the time of the early interplanetary spacecraft of the 1960s.
Q: In what other contexts has the concept of a solar sail been used?
A: The concept of solar sail has also been used in science fiction, such as the works of Jules Verne.
