BOREALUS Photon (star) sail ship

grabcad

The BOREALUS Photon starship sails with sunlight on large mirrors, named after a Greek wind god. This innovative spacecraft harnesses radiation pressure for propulsion and draws comparisons to sailboats, using solar light. High-energy laser beams could also be used as an alternative light source for greater force via "beam sailing." Solar sail craft offer cost-effective operations with long lifetimes due to few moving parts and no propellant. They've been used since the 1960s, accounting for solar pressure effects on trajectory planning and spacecraft orientation. An 800x800m sail experiences about 5 newtons force at Earth's distance from the Sun, making it a low-thrust propulsion system like electric engines but with consistent force over time.