lightcraft

> Their calculations show a 1Mw laser can put 1kg into orbit for a few
> tens or hundreds dollars. c.f. $2600 with Russian Proton V.

The cost of current launch systems is primarily the number of people
required to support it all, you can't just count the cost
of the energy to send the thing up. If laser (or even mass launcher)
systems mean significantly less complex machinery to install
with each payload, that should certainly help. But payload
preparation, and postlaunch communications, tracking etc are other
costs that will still be there, and will be worse if you're
launching lots of small things rather than one large one.

> Assuming 1 per minute, this makes 525 tonnes per year... that's
> more launch capability than all the other launchers put together,
> but for lower cost.

Truax's "big dumb" Sea Dragon was supposed to be capable of
launching 500 tonnes of payload in one launch. If there was a market
for it (should be cheaper than Energiya launches, supposedly under $1000
per kg). Laser-based launch systems should make more sense when they can move
bigger payloads; at least this proves it can be done.

Arthur Smith (apsmith@...