Using Sunlight to Propel Spaceships

Space
When scientists are planning missions, they sometimes have to take into account the fact that the light from the Sun pushes on the spacecraft. But with solar sails, they can also use that pressure to propel the craft along.

———-
Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters — we couldn’t make SciShow without them! Shout out to Justin Ove, Justin Lentz, David Campos, Philippe von Bergen, Chris Peters, Lilly Grainger, Happy Birthday!!, and Fatima Iqbal.
———-
Like SciShow? Want to help support us, and also get things to put on your walls, cover your torso and hold your liquids? Check out our awesome products over at DFTBA Records: http://dftba.com/SciShow

Or help support us by becoming our patron on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/scishow
———-
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scishow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scishow
Tumblr: http://scishow.tumblr.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/thescishow

Sources:
http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/evolution/AAS_08-051.pdf
http://time.com/3643896/kepler-planets-repair/
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2014/lightsail-update-launch.html
http://sail.planetary.org/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cubesat/missions/neascout.php
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/jul2014/presentations/0930_Thu_Castillo_NEAScout.pdf

Articles You May Like

Ouch! Don’t Cut that! | How It’s Made | Science Channel

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *