Will Solar Sails actually be used in future space exploration?
Question:
Answer:
Solar Sails are a very interesting technology that could be used for future space exploration, but currently face serious engineering issues to be able to do this.
Future manned and robotic space exploration outside of our solar system could currently be considered a pipe dream. Solar Sails, along with fusion motors, Bussard ramjets, antimatter drives, and Von Neumann machines are the various technologies being research as possible ways to further our manned and robotic exploration of space outside of our own solar system.
As far as the speed for a Solar Sail, most Solar Sail proposals would provide thrust for the craft with a very large laser. The actual speed of the craft would depend on the size of the craft and the size of the laser used, and the amount of time the laser would be able to provide thrust for the craft.
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