Extreme Metamaterial Solar Sails for Breakthrough Space Exploration NIAC Phase II Final Report

The past 60 years of space exploration have led to fascinating discoveries across many different branches of science and technology. However, further progress requires new revolutionary approaches to in-space propulsion for fast transit across the solar system and beyond. Here, we describe the concept of extreme solar sailing, in which we show by making use of a powered slingshot at extreme proximity to the surface of the sun, <5 solar radii, solar sails can be accelerated to >60 AU/yr (>300 km/s or 0.1% speed of light). We discuss associated materials challenges, environmental issues, sailcraft architecture and controls. We further analyze two mission concepts – Fast Transit Interstellar Probe and a precursor Corona-Net mission. We show that with proper technology development, such extreme solar sailing is feasible in the near term and can significantly transform the way space is explored today. If available, such solar sailing technology would allow fast flight through the solar system and at arbitrary inclinations to the plane of the ecliptic. A flight to Jupiter would take 5 months, 10 months to Neptune, Voyager 1 will be surpassed in 2.5 years, and 1000 AU reached in 17 years.