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.

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.