According to the article, https://phys.org/news/2024-01-qa-small-solar-giant-interplanetary.html, “Nearly 70 years after the launch of the first satellite, we still have more questions than answers about space. But a team of Berkeley researchers is on a mission to change this with a proposal to build a fleet of low-cost, autonomous spacecraft, each weighing only 10 grams and propelled by nothing more than the pressure of solar radiation. These miniaturized solar sails could potentially visit thousands of near-Earth asteroids and comets, capturing high-resolution images and collecting samples.”
My comments. Before sending star sails or laser sails to nearby stars, it is a good idea to start small, with spacecraft that rely on cheap existing consumer technology (along with solar sails, and other specialized technology developed for the spacecraft), possibly adapted or improved for the space environment, and resistant to space hazards. With a low budget in time and cost, numerous small spacecraft can be launched, in one go, and at least some of them should succeed in meeting mission objectives, like surveying comets and asteroids.
by rebel1024