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I read recently that Messenger saved fuel on its trip by using its photovoltaic panel as a sail. So there has been a demonstrated use of solar sails as propulsi

I read recently that Messenger saved fuel on its trip by using its photovoltaic panel as a sail. So there has been a demonstrated use of solar sails as propulsion, contrary to what the article says.

iwwr 11y ago
The Japanese IKAROS satellie has done extensive tests of solar sailing, gaining about 400m/s from solar pressure over a few years. It also did a flyby of Venus. https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/i/ikaros https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missio...