A new magnetic levitation -- or maglev -- track at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., accelerates a model spacecraft from zero to 60 mph in less than one-half second.

NASA Engineers discuss the future of space propulsion with a special emphasis on Solar Sails. The idea is to unfold a large aluminum coated Mylar blanket, face it to the sun, and let sunlight and the solar wind push the craft deeper into space.