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"In science fiction one can say a great many things that are unpalatable, … because it's expressed as science fiction you can slip it past their defenses."
- Frederik Pohl

Magship  
  A ship that uses magnetic fields to catch the solar wind for propulsion.  

"Lieutenant," Jimmy turned on the younger pilot, "how should I angle the magnetic field against the solar wind to achieve an effect of negative solar gravity?"

"Not a clue," she said cheerfully.

"...that's my whole point," Jimmy insisted. "Nothing she knows about rockets would prepare her to run a magship any better than me. And I do know the software and the theory."

Technovelgy from Falling Stars, by Michael Flynn.
Published by Tor in 1998
Additional resources -

See the article on the magsail for more information.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Falling Stars
  More Ideas and Technology by Michael Flynn
  Tech news articles related to Falling Stars
  Tech news articles related to works by Michael Flynn

Magship-related news articles:
  - New ESAIL Video: Deploy Tethers!

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Used Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Will Fly Again

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