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Solar sails use the pressure of sunlight for propulsion, trading rocket fuel for a tiny continuous push that can build over time.

Propulsion by sunlight

SpaceTechnologyEngineeringScience

Why it matters

The idea in context

Solar sailing sounds poetic because it is nearly literal. Photons have momentum; when they reflect from a large, lightweight sail, they press on it. The force is small, but it does not need a fuel tank and does not arrive in one dramatic burn. It keeps pushing, gently. In space, patience can become propulsion.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Güneş yelkenleri itki için güneş ışığının basıncını kullanır; roket yakıtı yerine zamanla birikebilen çok küçük ama sürekli bir itişten yararlanır.
Güneş ışığıyla itki

Güneş yelkeni şiirsel duyulur; çünkü neredeyse gerçekten öyledir. Fotonların momentumu vardır; büyük ve hafif bir yelkenden yansıdıklarında ona basınç uygularlar. Kuvvet küçüktür; ama yakıt deposu istemez ve tek bir dramatik yanışla gelmez. Usul usul itmeye devam eder. Uzayda sabır itkiye dönüşebilir.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Background reading: Solar sailAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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