KARI made 'solar sail' which can power spacecraft using solar wind

Solar sails are a method of propulsion for spacecraft using solar radiation and if they are well developed experts believe they may serve as affordable means of travel in space.

Having said that our Cha Yun-kyung covers Korea's related efforts.

Korean researchers have developed an apparatus that can store solar sails and then deploy them once a spacecraft reaches space. The square-shaped solar sail with an area of 10 square meters obtains power by capturing photons emitted by the sun in the sail.

"It seems like the wind pushing a sailboat but it's actually a photon engine that drives the craft. For this, when photons from the sun hit the sail, they move it forward.

If the solar sail is attached to a spaceship, it can travel through space for extended times without using a conventional engine. The solar sail made by the Korean researchers is larger than the 'ACS3' unveiled by NASA in April last year, which is 9 square meters.

Also, researchers explained that the solar sail is extremely light since it is an aluminum-metalized PET film. The solar sail can be folded down to 20 square centimeters, so that it can be easily stored in the opening apparatus. A direct current electric motor easily folds and deploys the sail in space.

Eyes are on whether the sail made by the local researchers can be utilized in space, after its successful demonstration on land.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.