The space shuttle could get to Pluto in only a few months if the cargo bay contained a solar sail that was unfurled once it had left orbit.[Apr 08 04 6:23 PM] sequoianoir writes:Sailing to the StarsInterstellar travel is a dream. But, the pathway to reality exists. Solar sailing is the technology that takes us on to that pathway. Reflecting photons against our giant metallized ultra-thin mirrors we will gain momentum in a continuous thrust which allow us to sail past the planets of our solar system in months, not years, and fly to the stars in years, not centuries.All you have to do to achieve this is make the sail bigger. Twice the size = twice the acceleration etc ...