KARI’s 10-metre solar sail with aluminium-coated film outshines NASA’s 2023 model

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) recently tested a technology that harnesses sunlight instead of traditional engines. A solar sail is a large, lightweight sheet that captures energy from photons—tiny particles of light emitted by the sun. As these photons strike the sail, they generate thrust, much like wind propelling a sailboat. This allows a spacecraft to travel through space indefinitely without the need for fuel or conventional propulsion systems.

Source- KARI

KARI's newly developed solar sail spans 10 meters and is crafted from an exceptionally lightweight material. It surpasses the size of NASA's 2023 solar sail and features a specialized film coated with aluminium. Designed for efficiency, the sail's deployment system is highly compact, allowing it to be folded into a small space and expanded when required. Beyond space exploration, scientists believe this technology could also play a crucial role in tackling the increasing issue of space debris in Earth's orbit.

Space is increasingly cluttered with unused satellites and broken spacecraft parts, but a solar sail could help clear this debris. KARI President Lee Sang-cheol stated that the team will continue developing new applications for this technology. He believes it could enhance South Korea's deep-space exploration capabilities and play a vital role in future space missions.