# 8083 byoevega@... on June 7, 2006, 2:15 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
Hi,
space by mean of laser powered "flying saurcers". The idea was to
have a power satellite in space which sent energy to
those "saucers", and in there the energy was used to heat some fuel,
producing a very high trust.
The main idea was that the source of energy was outside the ship, so
alternative propulsion systems could be applyied to give trust.
Have any one heared about a proposal as crazy like that? I think,
potentially could be an interesting solution to sent cargo to space.
Perhaps even more practical that the space elevator or the
hypersonic shuttles. If it's feasable, of course.
Regards,
Omar Vega
# 8084 bymikecombs@... on June 7, 2006, 3:06 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Omar E. Vega
> suttles to space by mean of laser powered "flying saurcers".
> The idea was to have a power satellite in space which sent
> energy to those "saucers", and in there the energy was used
> to heat some fuel, producing a very high trust.
This is Leik Myrabo's idea. As far as I know, he has not entirely
abandoned it, although the last I'd heard, he'd taken the research about
as far as he could until he can get hold of a bigger, more powerful
laser.
Regards,
Mike Combs
# 8085 bydehammer@... on June 7, 2006, 4:18 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
the problem is not the energy sourse, its the fuel. if hes heating
air in a kind of jet, he could get considerable altitude and speed
from it, but he'd still have to carry propellant to get out of the
atmosphere.
>
> Hi,
>
> I remember reading years ago about a proposal for sending suttles
to
> space by mean of laser powered "flying saurcers". The idea was to
> have a power satellite in space which sent energy to
> those "saucers", and in there the energy was used to heat some
fuel,
> producing a very high trust.
>
> The main idea was that the source of energy was outside the ship,
so
> alternative propulsion systems could be applyied to give trust.
>
> Have any one heared about a proposal as crazy like that? I think,
> potentially could be an interesting solution to sent cargo to
space.
# 8086 bymikecombs@... on June 7, 2006, 5:54 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert
> if hes heating air in a kind of jet, he could get
> considerable altitude and speed from it, but he'd
> still have to carry propellant to get out of the atmosphere.
Yes, it's certainly acknowledged that one needs on-board propellant for
the final push into orbit. Still, it's a significant savings in
propellant, plus the propellant can be chosen for its utility as
reaction mass rather than its energy content. For example, I've seen
proposals for using ice as reaction mass (perhaps mixed with a bit of
black plastic to aid in the absorption of laser energy).
I think Myrabo recommends hydrogen as propellant, but then we're still
saving the weight of the oxidizer we'd normally have to carry for a
rocket. We're relying on an external power source rather than on the
chemical energy in the fuel combination we're carrying.
Regards,
Mike Combs
# 8087 byoevega@... on June 7, 2006, 6:18 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
Hi,
to a geosyncronic satellite?
If so, a solar power satellite that feeds power could make possible
sending loads to space at very low prices per ton.
Regards,
Omar Vega
--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Combs, Mike"
>
> From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert
>
> > the problem is not the energy sourse, its the fuel.
> > if hes heating air in a kind of jet, he could get
> > considerable altitude and speed from it, but he'd
> > still have to carry propellant to get out of the atmosphere.
>
> Yes, it's certainly acknowledged that one needs on-board
propellant for
> the final push into orbit. Still, it's a significant savings in
> propellant, plus the propellant can be chosen for its utility as
> reaction mass rather than its energy content. For example, I've
seen
> proposals for using ice as reaction mass (perhaps mixed with a bit
of
> black plastic to aid in the absorption of laser energy).
>
> I think Myrabo recommends hydrogen as propellant, but then we're
still
> saving the weight of the oxidizer we'd normally have to carry for a
> rocket. We're relying on an external power source rather than on
the
# 8088 bymikecombs@... on June 7, 2006, 6:40 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Omar E. Vega
> based laser to a geosyncronic satellite?
You bet. In fact, that might not only be a good setup for spacecraft
ascending to orbit, but for long-range passenger jet travel. One would
take off with traditional jet engines, but once you've ascended to
cruising altitude (and the satellite locks on) you switch over to a
beam-intercepting heat exchanger on top.
When I first heard about this proposal, my first reaction was, "Great,
then if your power beam misses its target when the aircraft is over
land, then you've got a nice long line of forest fires." But proponents
say you could choose a laser frequency which is strongly absorbed by
water vapor. Jets cruise above the biggest part of the water vapor in
the atmosphere, but such a beam would be strongly attenuated by the time
it reached the ground, even on a clear day.
O'Neill wrote a bit about this in "2081: A Hopeful View of the Human
Future".
Regards,
Mike Combs