In theory, solar sails can operate indefinitely.

They are, however, limited by the durability of the solar sail materials and spacecraft electronic systems.

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A sped up animation of the solar sail unfurling in space, a process that takes about 25 minutes to complete.

A sped up animation of the solar sail unfurling in space, a process that takes about 25 minutes to complete.Gif: NASA

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Engineers at NASA’s Langley Research Center test deployment of the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System’s solar sail.Photo: NASA

An artist’s depiction of the Solar Sail System spacecraft in orbit.

An artist’s depiction of the Solar Sail System spacecraft in orbit.Illustration: NASA/Aero Animation/Ben Schweighart

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