Most innovations in technology that are now integrated into our daily lives were once thought to be stuff of science fiction and this can also be applied to famous astronomer Carl Sagan's concept of a spacecraft that can be powered by solar winds.

The late scientist originally thought of this idea about a spacecraft that would be able to utilize solar sails that can be powered by solar energy alone and can glide throughout space until a group of scientists decided to make this novel idea into reality. 

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This group is the Planetary Society which is a space advocacy group where Sagan is a co-founder himself that is now being run by Bill Nye. Nye designed this new innovation and planned the first test flight of LightSail that is based on the late Sagan's vision. 

The spacecraft is about the size of a loaf of bread that is capable of generating solar energy from its solar sails and can glide through deep space that is solely powered by solar winds which is similar to how winds can power a sailboat.

According to the Planetary Societ's website, when LightSail is launched into space, its solar arrays can swing wide open and reveal the interior of the spacecraft. Inside the craft lies four tape measure type metal booms that can slowly unwind from the craft's storage that can unfold into four triangular, Mylar sails.

The test flight is slated for May 20 however the craft will not be launched beyond the Earth's atmosphere to sail across space. The first test flight will mainly focus on the sail deployment sequence in order to achieve smooth sailing capabilities for LightSail when it comes to a point that larger test flights will be carried out in the near future.

Next year, LightSail will conduct a test flight that will already explore the spacecraft's solar energy harvesting abilities. 

LightSail also uses a unique propellant system where the CubeSat probe only utilizes renewable fuel as opossed to chemical rockets. This would mean that the tiny probe will be somewhat travelling at a slower pace but it also has the ability to accelerate when necessary.

Overall, the spacecraft captures light momentum by using its large and lightweight reflective surfaces as light can bounce off from these mirrored surfaces. Most of this momentum is transferred that will push against the sails.

Nye says that sunlight or light has no mass but it still possesses mometum that can push the sails throughout space.

TagsLightSail, Bill Nye, carl sagan, light powered sails spacecraft, planetary society, solar winds