Tiny laser-propelled spaceships could travel to the far reaches of the solar system and beyond

Space.com

By Charles Q. Choi 

March 6, 2022

Miniature spaceships the size of cellphones could fly across the solar systemusing sails propelled by lasers, which would allow the tiny spacecraft to reach much faster speeds — and, potentially, much more distant destinations — than conventionally powered rockets, a new study finds.

Current spacecraft usually take years to make trips within the solar system; for example, NASA’s New Horizons probe took nearly 10 years to reach Pluto. 

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