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the claim
Laser-propelled light sails approaching about 75 percent of the speed of light would experience drag from scattered photons, which limits the speeds they can reach.
the verdict
INSUFFICIENT LEANING
Recorded sources
5 sources for · 0 against
Is it true that Laser-propelled light sails approaching about 75 percent of the speed of light would experience drag from scattered photons, which limits the speeds they can reach?
Unclear. Several retrieved sources discuss laser-driven light sails and their potential for relativistic spaceflight, but none addresses the specific claim that scattered-photon drag limits achievable speeds near 75 percent of light speed. The evidence only partially covers the broader topic of lightsail propulsion.
Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 5 sources for, 0 against · Last checked
Evidence for · 5
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Edenilson, B. (2023). THE ELEGANT POWER OF LIGHT - EXPLORING SOLAR SAILS AS THE FUTURE OF INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10096125
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More for · 4
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Photonic lightsails: Fast and Stable Propulsion for Interstellar Travel. (n.d.). arxiv.org. https://arxiv.org/html/2502.17828v1
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Ognjen, I., M., W. C., & A., A. H. (2018). Nanophotonic Heterostructures for Efficient Propulsion and Radiative Cooling of Relativistic Light Sails. authors.library.caltech.edu. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b02035
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F., C. M., Pawan, K., & Jason, L. (2026). Experimental demonstration of corrugated nanolaminate films as reflective light sails. authors.library.caltech.edu. https://authors.library.caltech.edu/records/w0qhr-5be48
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Space Transport and Engineering Methods/Photon Engines. (n.d.). en.wikibooks.org. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Space_Transport_and_Engineering_Methods/Photon_Engines
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