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The ribbon sail is a film strip with diffractive grating that works with the surface-normal photonic pressure components on its two sides (originating from the incoming, reflected, and refracted light) canceled out. This occurs when the strip is straight and properly oriented with a tilt from the direction of illumination; then the thrust aligns with the ribbon and propels it toward its leading end. If the rear is restrained by the inertia of a payload, then tension builds up along the strip to the force that tows the payload.
As the operational state is inherently stable, no structural support is needed and the ribbon itself channels propulsion to the payload. The sail is navigated by re-orienting it from one equilibrium state to another, with steering elements, e.g., at the leading end. Stowage is also simplified: the linear, thin, and uniform structure permits trivial methods of stowage such as zig-zag packing or roll-up. Consequently, stowage voids can be negligible, allowing the package to approximate the otherwise unapproachable theoretical limit of net film volume.
The innovation's unparalleled benefits will dramatically improve performance and engineering budgets for any mission that needs a thrust component lateral to the light flux. Solar polar observation platforms, at the focus of the present study, are prime examples. However, many other missions (tugs for orbital debris removal, planetary defense, some interplanetary probes and transport, etc.) will also profoundly benefit because they also often rely on lateral thrust vectoring.
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