Light sail technology is a fascinating concept and a step change in rocket propulsion. It may not be big and impressive like the Saturn V, the Space Shuttle or the new Starship rocket but when it comes to traveling among the stars, light sails could just be the answer. And what better material to build the sails from then something that just makes me want to say it over and over again: photonics crystals. It sounds right out of a “Star Trek” episode, but a new paper examines their feasibility.

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