PROPELLED THROUGH THE SOLAR SYSTEM BY LIGHT

For my solar probe task I have decided to fly a SOLAR SAIL to the distant asteroid

What is a solar sail?

A solar sail is an object/probe that is pushed by the light of the sun, thus pushing the probe forward.

How does the light push the sail forwards?

Because light is made out of photons, which don't have mass, but have momentum thus, each time a photon bounces off the solar sail it gives it a small push.

How will my probe supply the source of light as it flies to the distant asteroid?

The answer is that my probe will have constant light from the sun, thus it it always accelerates and will never slow down.

How will I communicate with my probe?

I will use a High Gain Antenna (HGA) because it has proven itself to be as efficient as it was how people communicated with the voyager probe, the furthest thing we now in space thus, it must be efficient.

What is my solar sail going to be made out of?

My solar sail is going to be made of a thin layer of aluminium foil coated on a thin plastic sheet.

What do I need, to make a solar sail?

I would probably need these things:

Laser cutters

A 3d printer

A big workspace

Lots of metal

Lots of aluminium foil

A launchpad