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Re: Radiation Pressure



What causes radiation pressure? I have read that this could be used to
power interstellar spaceships. If this is true how would the ships
control their direction? Would it be possible to orient a large "sail" so
that you could steer in any direction regardless of how strong
the radiation pressure from a variety of stars? Thanks in advance for any
insight.

EM radiation possesses momentum. Redirecting or absorbing it entails
the exertion of a force on it. We call the amount of this force per
unit area the "radiation pressure".

Leigh