Arthur C. Clarke - The Sunjammer

“The Sunjammer” is a 1964 short story by Arthur C. Clarke about a solar sail race between spacecraft propelled only by sunlight, capturing the thrill of human ingenuity and interplanetary competition. It’s an inspiration for us because it imagined, decades ahead of its time, a bold new form of space travel powered by light—exactly the kind of boundary-pushing spirit we aim to bring to life.

Orteig Prize

The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 challenge offered in 1919 for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris, eventually won by Charles Lindbergh in 1927. It sparked a golden age of aviation innovation, showing how targeted competition can transform the impossible into history—exactly the spirit we bring to solar sail racing.

Treasure Planet

Disney’s Treasure Planet reimagines the classic pirate adventure as a sci-fi odyssey, blending solar sailing ships with interstellar exploration and coming-of-age discovery. Its striking visuals and spirit of rebellious curiosity inspire us to see space not just as a frontier—but as a sea of stories waiting to be charted.

LightSail (The Planetary Society)

LightSail is a crowdfunded solar sail project launched by The Planetary Society to demonstrate the feasibility of sunlight-driven propulsion in Earth orbit. It embodies the public’s passion for space exploration—powered not just by photons, but by grassroots belief in a shared cosmic future.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – “Explorers”

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – “Explorers” tells the story of Captain Sisko building a solar sail vessel to retrace the mythic voyage of ancient Bajorans. It’s a quiet, powerful tribute to human (and alien) curiosity and the timeless dream of sailing the stars—fueled by nothing but light and belief.

IKAROS (JAXA, 2010)

IKAROS was the first successful interplanetary solar sail mission, launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. It proved that sunlight alone could propel a spacecraft across the solar system, validating the real-world potential of what was once only science fiction.

C.S. Forester - Horatio Hornblower

The Horatio Hornblower series follows a young Royal Navy officer rising through the ranks during the Napoleonic Wars, mastering the winds, the sea, and the chaos of battle. His journey—equal parts intellect, courage, and shiphandling—mirrors the kind of daring and discipline we admire in a new generation of solar sailors.