Solar sails edge closer to interstellar travel, study finds

A Space.com piece explains how solar sails—ultra-thin membranes propelled by photon pressure—have progressed from lab tests (e.g., Ikaros, Lightsail 2) toward near-term heliophysics missions (like Solar Cruiser) and ambitious concepts (Svarog) that could push spacecraft to the edge of the solar system within 10–20 years. By sun-diving closer to the Sun, sails could gain immense speed, potentially reaching 5–50 AU per year depending on how close the dive, while major hurdles—heat resistance, large deployable booms, and power/communications—remain. Breakthrough Starshot’s laser-pushed approach remains on hold, so practical solar-sail missions are likely to come first for solar-storm monitoring and solar-polar studies before any interstellar-scale voyages.