What have you heard about solar sails?


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Answer:
In theory, a very light weight space craft with a very large area "sail" could use pressure from sunlight itself to accelerate. Note that it is the actual sunlight, as in photons, that exert the force, not the solar wind, which is a stream of particles from the Sun. The solar wind does not exert nearly as much force as the light does. Hard to believe, but true.
Nothing sense Star-trek. Its just a theory that would use the solar wind coming from the sun to push the sails. Personally i don't think you would go that fast, at least in space terms.
No you could go very fast, just about as fast as the solar wind can carry particles, around 1 million miles/hour. The only problem is that in order to maximize the effect of the solar wind and actually pick up speed, you would need a sail that is several hundred kilometers wide, and with our technology and lack of durable materials, building solar sails would be fruitless.
Solar sails are still experimental and are a true means of posible energy needed to travel within a solar system and a little beyond. A good example of solar sail power craft is in Star Wars episode II when Count Duku escapes from one planet to enter another, and explains to the dark Sith how plans are going according to schedual.
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