Megastructures: Shkadov Thrusters

A Shkadov thruster is a hypothetical megastructure which was first proposed by the physicist Leonid Shkadov. All of the star systems and galaxies in the universe are moving through space relative to some frame of reference. Basically, a Shkadov thruster is a method of altering the trajectories of those systems through space. In other words, to put it more simply, it is a method of moving stars, star systems, and entire galaxies. We shall also briefly mention the disassembly of worlds such as planets, moons, comets and asteroids and the disassembly of a star (a process known as star lifting) as a method of acquiring enough materials to build a gargantuan orbital mirror (a mirror more massive than the entire Earth) next to a star such as the Sun. The mirror is the Shkadov thruster and could move a star by causing an asymmetry in radiation pressure acting on the star.