noun
light sail; solar sail
A spacecraft propulsion method using radiation pressure from sunlight on a large reflective surface. Technical term; compare 太陽帆 (たいようほ).
See also: 太陽帆
光帆は太陽光の圧力で推進する宇宙船の技術だ。
A light sail is a spacecraft technology that propels using the pressure of sunlight.
惑星探査に光帆を使う計画が進められている。
Plans are underway to use solar sails for planetary exploration.
Synonym; 太陽帆 explicitly mentions the sun, while 光帆 is more general.
Compound of 光 (light) and 帆 (sail), a calque of English 'light sail' or 'solar sail'.