Solar Sail

"The EM-Rail Ejector can launch large numbers of Solar Sails to create a Dyson Swarm, enabling more efficient radiant energy acquisition from a star."

Overview[]

Solar Sails can be launched directly or used as an ingredient for Dyson Sphere Components. A Solar Sail launched into orbit by an EM-Rail Ejector will have one of two fates: it can either be part of the Dyson Swarm, or become part of the Dyson sphere proper.

If a proper shell has not been designed, or if the shell has not been fully constructed via the launch of many Small Carrier Rockets, a Solar Sail will join the Dyson Swarm instead of a Dyson Sphere Shell. As part of the Dyson Swarm, these Solar Sails will have a limited lifespan because they are unsupported. This limited lifespan makes this mode of operation undesirable in the long run. Still, it does provide some value if needed due to the variations in orbit radius having an impact on power generation per Sail.

Alternatively, provided nodes and frames between them are constructed, and the inner region designated a shell (a blue-green area enclosed with frames), you will have the start of a Dyson sphere. You will then need to fill shells with Solar Sails. Just launch Solar Sails with the EM-Rail Ejector, and an unfilled shell will requisition them from their orbit. Sails will change from white to blue to show they have been requisitioned. Note that the Solar Sails take many minutes to change orbit and speed in order to join the shell area. A sail that has been made part of a shell is permanent.