Japan is about to launch a deep space mission that will use a solar sail to propel the craft. Solar sails operate simply. A sheet of extremely light, thin material is deployed. Solar winds streaming out from the Sun catches that material and pushes the spacecraft. That push is slight but constant, and over time could develop real speed. This mission will be the first to use a solar sail on an interplanetary probe.
The Japanese sail will also be a two-for-one. The sail will provide propulsion, but it will also be covered by solar cells, which will provide energy for the spacecraft. The first target of the mission will be Venus, but the probe is also to continue to the far side of the Sun.
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