this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
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How does one calculate the necessary surface area for a laser-propelled light sail for a spacecraft, so it doesn’t get shredded by the beam? (self.askphysics)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by JoshuaSlowpoke777 to c/askphysics
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Edit: I assume we’d at least have to take intended acceleration and the mass of the spacecraft into account, at least, right?

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[–] badcommandorfilename 1 points 1 year ago

I assume pressure is pressure is pressure even in space? We measure tensile strength in MPa.