Laser to lift lightcraft into space
This paper discusses how someday it may be possible to launch spacecraft into orbit using a solar-energy-powered laser beam rather than chemical fuels. The two main potential advantages of a spacecraft powered by a remote laser beam compared to conventional chemical rockets would be substantially lower launch costs and high reliability and safety. In addition, because almost all the spacecraft's energy would be supplied externally, 10 to 30 percent of its launch weight could consists of useful payload. The laser beams would come from satellite-based solar power stations (SPS) that convert solar energy to either infrared or visible laser energy. An SPS powerplant should be able to operate continuously for more than 1000 hours without major servicing. It is currently estimated that the first 7000-megawatt SPS could be in orbit by the early 21st century. The heart of the laser-boosted lightcraft concept is an air-breathing combined-cycle engine. By operating in different modes, this engine can compensate for changes in the atmospheric air scooped up during the trip into orbit.
- OSTI ID:
- 6348812
- Journal Information:
- Mechanical Engineering; (USA), Vol. 112:9; ISSN 0025-6501
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
LASERS
BEAM OPTICS
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
PLANNING
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
COMBINED CYCLES
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
INFRARED RADIATION
NASA
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
VISIBLE RADIATION
CONVERSION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POWER PLANTS
POWER SUPPLIES
RADIATIONS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
US ORGANIZATIONS
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
140501 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
426002 - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)
320201 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Transportation- Air & Aerospace