Will Solar Power Lead to the Future of Space Exploration?

Highlights

• The Planetary Society launched the second-ever solar sail spacecraft last month, LightSail 2.
• The unique design could transform deep space exploration as it does not need fuel or expensive rockets.
• The spacecraft operates using only the power of photons from the Sun.
• LightSail 2 deploys a sail made from Mylar that unfolds to almost 300 square feet
• The spacecraft is expect to orbit for about a year before falling back to Earth’s atmosphere.
• The organization is hopeful that the technology will be applied to missions searching for life in the solar system.