a spacecraft without an engine

a spacecraft without a rocket engine

a structure that forms a method of propulsion , based on the reflection of light

a very large mirror that reflects sunlight

a very thin film of reflective material, probably with an area of many square kilometers, perhaps many thousands of square kilometers

a surface, usually very large and lightweight, that makes use of pressure due to solar wind for propulsion

an extremely thin, highly reflective sail that is pushed by light beams (either solar or laser-generated). It is a slow propulsion system, but it requires no propellant and is thus very economic. Solar sails are extremely fragile and occupy a large area of space (several square kilometers for even the smaller ships).

solar sail is a large, flat surface that harnesses the force of photons (light) from the Sun to propel a spacecraft around the Solar Sysyem. The solar wind does not exert enough pressure to push a solar sail. After observing the tail of comets over 400 years ago, the astronomer Johannes Kepler theorized that space vessels might someday use the solar breeze for power, much as sailing ships do.

Solar sails (also called light sails, especially when they use light sources other than the Sun) are a proposed form of spacecraft propulsion using large membrane mirrors. Radiation pressure is small and decreases by the square of the distance from the sun, but unlike rockets, solar sails require no fuel. Although the thrust is small, it continues as long as the sun shines and the sail is deployed.