Interstellar lightsails encounter drag from light at relativistic speeds

universetoday.com

Interstellar lightsails face a new drag force from light itself as they approach the speed of light. A new paper reveals that at relativistic speeds, the Doppler effect reduces thrust, and at 75% light speed, light aberration creates drag, hindering acceleration. This research focuses on radiative dynamics, not accounting for interstellar dust or material limits, but offers crucial insights for future interstellar missions.


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Interstellar lightsails encounter drag from light at relativistic speeds | News Minimalist