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506:"Laser propulsion as an idea that may produce a revolution in space technology. A single laser facility on the ground can in theory launch single-stage vehicles into low or high earth orbit. The payload can be 20% or 30% of the vehicle take-off weight. It is far more economical in the use of mass and energy than chemical propulsion, and it is far more flexible in putting identical vehicles into a variety of orbits."
484:
integrating it into the propulsion system of a small rocket to produce the first millimeter-wave thermal rocket. Simultaneously, it developed the first high-power cooperative target millimeter-wave beam director and used it to attempt the first millimeter-wave thermal rocket launch. Several launches were attempted, but problems with the beam director could not be resolved before funding ran out in March 2014.
442:" design is a reflective funnel-shaped craft that channels heat from the laser toward the center, using a reflective parabolic surface, causing the laser to explode the air underneath it, generating lift. Reflective surfaces in the craft focus the beam into a ring, where it heats air to a temperature nearly five times hotter than the surface of the Sun, causing the air to expand explosively for thrust.
149:, for instance, the fuel is used only to produce energy, and the air provides the working mass the jet aircraft flies through. In modern jet engines, the amount of air propelled is much more significant than the amount used for energy. However, this is not a solution for the rockets as they quickly climb to altitudes where the air is too thin to be useful as a source of working mass.
516:"The results of the study showed that, with advanced technology, laser rocket system with either a space- or ground-based laser transmitter could reduce the national budget allocated to space transportation by 10 to 345 billion dollars over a 10-year life cycle when compared to advanced chemical propulsion systems (LO
492:
The motivation to develop beam-powered propulsion systems comes from the economic advantages gained due to improved propulsion performance. In the case of beam-powered launch vehicles, better propulsion performance enables some combination of increased payload fraction, increased structural margins,
425:
set a new world's altitude record of 233 feet (71 m) for its 4.8 inch (12.2 cm) diameter, 1.8-ounce (51 g), laser-boosted rocket in a flight lasting 12.7 seconds. Although much of the 8:35 am flight was spent hovering at 230+ feet, the
Lightcraft earned a world record for the longest
409:
tanks or an ablative solid in space. By leaving the vehicle's power source on the ground and using the ambient atmosphere as reaction mass for much of its ascent, a lightcraft could deliver a substantial percentage of its launch mass to orbit. It could also potentially be very cheap to manufacture.
167:
Further improvement can be made by removing the energy created by the spacecraft. If the nuclear reactor is left on the ground and its energy is transmitted to the spacecraft, its weight is also removed. The issue then is getting the energy into the spacecraft. This is the idea behind beamed power.
408:
The laser shines on a parabolic reflector on the vehicle's underside, concentrating the light to produce a region of extremely high temperature. The air in this region is heated and expands violently, producing thrust with each pulse of laser light. A lightcraft must provide this gas from onboard
534:
The 1970s-era studies and others since have cited beam director cost as a possible impediment to beam-powered launch systems. A recent cost-benefit analysis estimates that microwave (or laser) thermal rockets would be economical once beam director cost falls below 20 $ /Watt. The current cost of
566:
In 2002 a
Japanese group propelled a tiny aluminium airplane by using a laser to vaporize a water droplet clinging to it, and in 2003 NASA researchers flew an 11-ounce (312 g) model airplane with a propeller powered with solar panels illuminated by a laser. It is possible that such beam-powered
258:
In this system, if a high intensity is incident on the solar array, careful design of the panels is necessary to avoid a fall-off in conversion efficiency due to heating effects. John Brophy has analyzed the transmission of laser power to a photovoltaic array powering a high-efficiency electric
578:
from Earth orbit. This is another proposed use of beam-powered propulsion, used on objects not designed to be propelled by it, for example, small pieces of scrap knocked off ("spalled") satellites. The technique works since the laser power ablates one side of the object, giving an impulse that
535:
suitable lasers is <100 $ /Watt and the cost of suitable microwave sources is <$ 5/Watt. Mass production has lowered the production cost of microwave oven magnetrons to <0.01 $ /Watt and some medical lasers to <10 $ /Watt, though these are considered unsuitable for beam directors.
464:
proposed a simpler, nearer-term concept with a rocket containing liquid hydrogen. The propellant is heated in a heat exchanger that the laser beam shines on before leaving the vehicle via a conventional nozzle. This concept can use continuous beam lasers, and the semiconductor lasers are now
483:
proposed a similar system using microwaves. In May 2012, the DARPA/NASA Millimeter-wave
Thermal Launch System (MTLS) Project began the first steps toward implementing this idea. The MTLS Project was the first to demonstrate a millimeter-wave absorbent refractory heat exchanger, subsequently
207:
In microwave thermal propulsion, an external microwave beam is used to heat a refractory heat exchanger to >1,500 K, heating a propellant such as hydrogen, methane, or ammonia. This improves the propulsion system's specific impulse and thrust/weight ratio relative to conventional rocket
286:
broadcast power has been practically demonstrated several times (e.g., in
Goldstone, California, in 1974). Rectennas are potentially lightweight and can handle high power at high conversion efficiency. However, rectennas must be huge for a significant amount of power to be captured.
434:
using a custom-built, one-megawatt ground-based laser. Such a system would use just about 20 dollars worth of electricity, placing launch costs per kilogram to many times less than current launch costs (which are measured in thousands of dollars).
567:
propulsion could be useful for long-duration high altitude uncrewed aircraft or balloons, perhaps designed to serve β like satellites do today β as communication relays, science platforms, or surveillance platforms.
193:
Since a laser can heat propellant to extremely high temperatures, this potentially greatly improves the efficiency of a rocket, as exhaust velocity is proportional to the square root of the temperature. Normal
198:
have an exhaust speed limited by the fixed amount of energy in the propellants, but beamed propulsion systems have no particular theoretical limit (although, in practice, there are temperature limits).
340:, and the laser or microwave antenna has to have good pointing stability so that the craft can tilt its sails fast enough to follow the center of the beam. This gets more important when going from
430:'s first test flight of his rocket design. Increasing the laser power to 100 kilowatts will enable flights up to a 30-kilometer altitude. They aim to accelerate a one-kilogram microsatellite into
329:
Forward proposed pushing a sail with a microwave beam in a later paper. This has the advantage that the sail need not be a continuous surface. Forward tagged his proposal for an ultralight sail "
771:
G. A. Landis, "Optics and
Materials Considerations for a Laser-Propelled Lightsail", paper IAA-89-664, the 40th International Astronautical Federation Congress, MΓ‘laga, Spain, Oct. 7-12, 1989 (
134:
machines; they use mass ejected from the rocket to provide momentum to the rocket. Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, so rockets generally attempt to put as much velocity into their
729:
417:
Early in the morning of 2 October 2000 at the High Energy Laser
Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), Lightcraft Technologies, Inc. (LTI) with the help of Franklin B. Mead of the U.S.
1354:
142:
is required. In a conventional rocket, the fuel is chemically combined to provide the energy, and the resulting fuel products, the ash or exhaust, are used as the working mass.
179:
or a laser beam from a fixed installation. This permits the spacecraft to leave its power source at home, saving significant amounts of mass and greatly improving performance.
1217:
1289:
333:". A later analysis by Landis suggested that the Starwisp concept as initially proposed by Forward would not work, but variations on the proposal might be implemented.
1206:
Parkin, K. L. G., et al. (2002). A Microwave-Thermal
Thruster for Ultra Low-Cost Launch of Microsatellites, Jet Propulsion Center, California Institute of Technology.
378:
Another beam-pushed concept uses pellets or projectiles of ordinary matter. A stream of pellets from a stationary mass-driver is "reflected" by the spacecraft, cf.
1121:
Kare, J. T. (1992). Development of Laser-Driven Heat
Exchanger Rocket for Ground to-Orbit Launch. Washington, DC International Astronautical Federation Congress.
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ever laser-powered free flight and the greatest "air time" (i.e., launch-to-landing/recovery) from a light-propelled object. This is comparable to
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is a vehicle currently under development that uses an external pulsed source of laser or maser energy to provide power for producing thrust.
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and when going from a fly-by mission to a landing mission to a return mission. The laser or the microwave sender would probably be a large
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has proposed a variant to this whereby a "beam" of small laser accelerated light sails would transfer momentum to a magsail vehicle.
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of small devices that get their energy directly from solar radiation. The size of the array negates the need for a lens or mirror.
95:
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propulsion. For example, hydrogen can provide a specific impulse of 700β900 seconds and a thrust/weight ratio of 50-150.
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was carried out in the 1960s, but environmental concerns and rising costs led to the ending of most of these programs.
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that uses energy beamed to the spacecraft from a remote power plant to provide energy. The beam is typically either a
1822:
1175:
268:
117:
247:. Usually, these schemes assume either solar panels or an onboard reactor. However, both power sources are heavy.
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Rockets can carry their working mass and use other energy sources. The problem is finding an energy source with a
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changes the eccentricity of the object's orbit. The orbit would then intersect the atmosphere and burn up.
1371:
64:
Other than launching to orbit, applications for moving around the world quickly have also been proposed.
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jet. Landis proposed a particle beam pushed sail in 1989, and analyzed in more detail in a 2004 paper.
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With beamed propulsion, one can leave the power source stationary on the ground and directly (or via a
161:
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The beam has to have a large diameter so that only a small portion of the beam misses the sail due to
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There is no particular reason why the same fuel has to be used for both energy and momentum. In the
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in which the propellant is heated by energy provided by an external laser beam. In 1992, the late
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of power beamed to a vehicle per kg of payload while it is being accelerated to permit it to reach
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1006:
788:
G. A. Landis, "Small Laser-Pushed
Lightsail Interstellar Probe: A Study of Parameter Variations",
588:
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was initially proposed by G. Marx but first analyzed in detail, and elaborated on, by physicist
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945:, paper AIAA-2000-3337, 36th Joint Propulsion Conference, Huntsville AL, July 17β19, 2000. (
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563:. The rectenna converted microwave power into electricity, allowing the helicopter to fly.
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239:, in which electrical energy is used by an electrically powered rocket engine, such as an
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as possible, thereby minimizing the needed working mass. To accelerate the working mass,
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382:. The spacecraft neither needs energy nor reaction mass for propulsion of its own.
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227:. This produces a very high acceleration compared to microwave-pushed sails alone.
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beam, and it is either pulsed or continuous. A continuous beam lends itself to
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R. L. Forward, "Roundtrip
Interstellar Travel Using Laser-Pushed lightsails,"
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2001:
1974:
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899:
Forward, Robert L. (1985). "Starwisp - An ultra-light interstellar probe".
883:
Directed Energy For Relativistic Propulsion and Interstellar Communications
575:
349:
323:
240:
135:
1182:
835:
Andrews, Dana G. (1994). "Cost considerations for interstellar missions".
730:
A Breakthrough Propulsion Architecture for Interstellar Precursor Missions
2361:
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907:(3). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA): 345β350.
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1409:
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707:
The Microwave Thermal Thruster and Its Application to the Launch Problem
511:
This promise was quantified in a 1978 Lockheed Study conducted for NASA:
16:
Mechanism where confined high-speed particles confer energy to a vehicle
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2077:
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439:
396:
315:
299:
224:
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146:
102: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
43:
1010:, Final Report, NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, 31 December 2001
715:
2351:
1007:
High-acceleration Micro-scale Laser Sails for Interstellar Propulsion
948:"American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics - Meeting Papers"
556:
295:
A beam could also provide impulse by directly "pushing" on the sail.
283:
31:
1140:"Modular Laser Launch Architecture: Analysis and Beam Module Design"
1074:
920:
77:
46:. In contrast, a pulsed beam lends itself to ablative thrusters and
1091:
Orbit-Raising and Maneuvering Propulsion: Research Status and Needs
560:
330:
275:
131:
54:
23:
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by not carrying fuel. Further analysis of the concept was done by
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620:
600:
260:
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1454:
139:
1240:"Microwave-Powered Rockets Would Slash Cost of Reaching Orbit"
805:
501:, succinctly articulates the promise of beam-powered launch:
250:
Beamed propulsion in the form of a laser can send power to a
176:
35:
1218:"NASA Exploring Laser Beams to Zap Rockets Into Outer Space"
53:
The rule of thumb that is usually quoted is that it takes a
592:
1067:"Concepts and status of laser-supported rocket propulsion"
22:, also known as directed energy propulsion, is a class of
1042:
LightCraft Launch Oct 2000 - laserbeam powered propulsion
742:
G. Marx, "Interstellar Vehicle Propelled by Laser Beam,"
1372:"NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Beamed Laser Power for UAVs"
828:
943:
Microwave Pushed Interstellar Sail: Starwisp Revisited"
991:
G. A. Landis, "Interstellar Flight by Particle Beam,"
160:
can compete in this regard, and considerable work on
796:, No. 4, pp. 149-154 (1997); Paper IAA-95-4.1.1.02,
643:
Progress in beamed energy propulsion | Kevin Parkin
259:propulsion system as a means of accomplishing high
235:Some proposed spacecraft propulsion mechanisms use
223:of propellant trapped in the material of a massive
1361:Descriptive Note : Final rept. Jun 64-Apr 65
1352:EXPERIMENTAL AIRBORNE MICROWAVE SUPPORTED PLATFORM
807:
274:A microwave beam could be used to send power to a
2495:
975:"Interstellar Flight by Particle Beam Revisited"
302:to reflect a laser beam. This concept, called a
733:, NASA, March 30, 2018. Accessed Nov. 18, 2019.
497:'s 1977 study of laser propulsion, authored by
1137:
538:
355:Another beam-pushed concept would be to use a
2127:
1425:
1022:"'Smart Pellets' and Interstellar Propulsion"
806:Eugene Mallove & Gregory Matloff (1989).
363:to divert a beam of charged particles from a
1320:"Final Report. Laser Rocket System Analysis"
1287:
767:
765:
639:
1267:Microwave Thermal Propulsion - Final Report
892:
468:
175:) heat propellant on the spacecraft with a
2476:
2134:
2120:
1432:
1418:
782:
749:
237:electrically powered spacecraft propulsion
2141:
1439:
762:
156:that competes with chemical fuels. Small
118:Learn how and when to remove this message
1844:Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion
887:J. British Interplanetary Soc., Vol. 68,
699:
697:
1019:
972:
898:
834:
445:
202:
2496:
2332:Differential technological development
1400:Fine-Tuning the Interstellar Lightsail
1264:
1176:"HX Laser Launch: It's Steamship Time"
1038:
710:, California Institute of Technology,
703:
686:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
230:
2115:
1413:
1317:
1215:
694:
529:
465:cost-effective for this application.
1390:NASA video on Laser Drive Propulsion
1073:, Vol. 21, No. 1 (1984), pp. 70-79.
100:adding citations to reliable sources
71:
2421:Future-oriented technology analysis
1324:Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
385:
211:A variation, developed by brothers
182:
13:
1749:Field-emission electric propulsion
1336:
757:J. Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 21
14:
2525:
1823:Microwave electrothermal thruster
1405:How Stuff Works: light-propulsion
1382:
1252:10.1038/scientificamerican1215-33
1216:Patel, Prachi (25 January 2011).
1138:Jordin T. Kare (March 24, 2004).
1099:10.2514/5.9781600865633.0129.0148
1075:https://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.8610
1071:Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
901:Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
290:
269:NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts
2475:
2095:
1288:Dyson, Freeman; Perkins (1977).
973:Gilster, Paul (April 18, 2005).
314:that would avoid extremely high
76:
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1258:
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1156:from the original on 2022-10-09
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1049:from the original on 2021-12-11
1032:
1020:Gilster, Paul (July 16, 2014).
1013:
998:
985:
966:
935:
871:
87:needs additional citations for
1953:Pulsed nuclear thermal rocketβ
1849:High Power Electric Propulsion
1290:"JASON Laser Propulsion Study"
995:, No. 11, 931-934 (Dec. 2004).
814:. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
799:
792:British Interplanetary Society
736:
721:
655:
633:
616:Project Forward (interstellar)
1:
2448:Technology in science fiction
1808:Helicon double-layer thruster
1777:Electrodeless plasma thruster
1772:Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
626:
574:" has been proposed to sweep
419:Air Force Research Laboratory
390:
280:microwave electric propulsion
67:
2293:Laser communication in space
889:No. 5/6, May, 2015, pp. 172.
857:10.1016/0094-5765(94)90272-0
759:, pp 187-195 (Mar-Apr. 1989)
551:equipped with a combination
487:
456:A laser thermal rocket is a
7:
1339:"Microwave Thermal Rockets"
1294:Stanford Research Institute
704:Parkin, Kevin L.G. (2006),
640:Breakthrough (2018-05-29),
582:
539:Non-spacecraft applications
10:
2530:
2453:Technology readiness level
2389:Technological unemployment
1093:. 1984. pp. 129β148.
1087:"Laser Thermal Propulsion"
1065:H. Krier and R. J. Glumb.
472:
449:
412:
394:
256:Laser electric propulsion.
186:
162:nuclear thermal propulsion
42:, photonic thrusters, and
2471:
2436:Technological singularity
2396:Technological convergence
2314:
2280:
2225:
2165:
2156:
2149:
2093:
2010:
1989:
1933:
1880:
1871:
1836:
1790:
1767:Pulsed inductive thruster
1759:
1721:
1712:
1682:
1651:
1608:
1582:
1575:
1512:
1447:
993:Acta Astronautica, Vol 55
547:demonstrated a miniature
2298:Orbital propellant depot
2255:Plasma propulsion engine
2250:Nuclear pulse propulsion
1941:Nuclear pulse propulsion
1700:Electric-pump-fed engine
1600:Hybrid-propellant rocket
1590:Liquid-propellant rocket
843:. Elsevier BV: 357β365.
469:Microwave thermal rocket
245:plasma propulsion engine
48:pulse detonation engines
2401:Technological evolution
2374:Exploratory engineering
2235:Beam-powered propulsion
2217:Reusable launch vehicle
1997:Beam-powered propulsion
1970:Fission-fragment rocket
1925:Nuclear photonic rocket
1893:Nuclear electric rocket
1659:Staged combustion cycle
1595:Solid-propellant rocket
810:The Starflight Handbook
746:, July 1966, pp. 22-23.
524:) of equal capability."
322:, Mallove and Matloff,
310:in 1989 as a method of
304:laser-pushed lightsail,
298:One example is using a
267:precursor mission in a
20:Beam-powered propulsion
2411:Technology forecasting
2406:Technological paradigm
2379:Proactionary principle
2180:Non-rocket spacelaunch
2048:Non-rocket spacelaunch
1898:Nuclear thermal rocket
1798:Pulsed plasma thruster
1357:March 2, 2010, at the
1265:Parkin, Kevin (2017).
611:List of laser articles
527:
509:
2504:Spacecraft propulsion
2337:Disruptive innovation
2143:Emerging technologies
1714:Electrical propulsion
1441:Spacecraft propulsion
1039:Myrabo (2007-06-27),
596:Centennial Challenges
513:
503:
342:interplanetary travel
154:power-to-weight ratio
28:spacecraft propulsion
2384:Technological change
2327:Collingridge dilemma
1946:Antimatter-catalyzed
1744:Hall-effect thruster
1557:Solar thermal rocket
1246:. December 1, 2015.
589:Beam Power Challenge
446:Laser thermal rocket
365:particle accelerator
263:missions such as an
219:, is to use thermal
203:Microwave propulsion
96:improve this article
2441:Technology scouting
2416:Accelerating change
2288:Interstellar travel
1888:Direct Fusion Drive
1803:Vacuum arc thruster
1690:Pressure-fed engine
1669:Gas-generator cycle
1576:Chemical propulsion
1513:Physical propulsion
1244:Scientific American
1127:1992wadc.iafcQY...K
913:1985JSpRo..22..345F
849:1994AcAau..34..357A
606:Thinned-array curse
346:interstellar travel
326:Lubin, and others.
312:interstellar travel
231:Electric propulsion
2458:Technology roadmap
2102:Spaceflight portal
2068:Reactionless drive
2033:Aerogravity assist
1873:Nuclear propulsion
1318:Jones, W. (1979).
530:Beam director cost
493:and fewer stages.
252:photovoltaic panel
2491:
2490:
2310:
2309:
2306:
2305:
2109:
2108:
2063:Atmospheric entry
2018:Orbital mechanics
1985:
1984:
1867:
1866:
1818:Resistojet rocket
1708:
1707:
1683:Intake mechanisms
1616:Liquid propellant
1520:Cold gas thruster
1108:978-0-915928-82-8
837:Acta Astronautica
821:978-0-471-61912-3
716:10.7907/T337-T709
481:Kevin L.G. Parkin
308:Robert L. Forward
128:
127:
120:
2521:
2479:
2478:
2426:Horizon scanning
2342:Ephemeralization
2260:Helicon thruster
2245:Laser propulsion
2163:
2162:
2154:
2153:
2136:
2129:
2122:
2113:
2112:
2099:
2083:Alcubierre drive
2073:Field propulsion
2023:Orbital maneuver
2011:Related concepts
1878:
1877:
1729:Colloid thruster
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1718:
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1579:
1482:Specific impulse
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1296:. Archived from
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1275:2060/20170009162
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1224:. Archived from
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1188:on July 24, 2011
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1181:. Archived from
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665:. Archived from
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559:device called a
545:William C. Brown
386:Proposed systems
196:chemical rockets
189:Laser propulsion
183:Laser propulsion
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979:Centauri Dreams
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40:thermal rockets
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1383:External links
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1228:on 2011-01-27.
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475:Thermal rocket
473:Main article:
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458:thermal rocket
452:Thermal rocket
450:Main article:
447:
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428:Robert Goddard
414:
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395:Main article:
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291:Direct impulse
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225:microwave sail
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187:Main article:
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173:heat exchanger
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1643:Tripropellant
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1374:. 2015-03-31.
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1300:on 2016-12-20
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1147:niac.usra.edu
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727:John Brophy,
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669:on 2011-09-28
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499:Freeman Dyson
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357:magnetic sail
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213:James Benford
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108:December 2022
101:
97:
91:
90:
85:This section
83:
79:
74:
73:
65:
62:
60:
56:
51:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
25:
21:
2514:Force lasers
2509:Space access
2480:
2367:Robot ethics
2240:Ion thruster
2234:
2210:Space tether
2190:Orbital ring
2100:
2043:Space launch
1996:
1975:Fission sail
1903:Radioisotope
1734:Ion thruster
1652:Power cycles
1638:Bipropellant
1530:Steam rocket
1525:Water rocket
1366:
1347:
1332:
1323:
1313:
1302:. Retrieved
1298:the original
1293:
1283:
1266:
1260:
1243:
1234:
1226:the original
1221:
1211:
1202:
1190:. Retrieved
1183:the original
1170:
1158:. Retrieved
1146:
1133:
1117:
1090:
1081:
1070:
1061:
1051:, retrieved
1041:
1034:
1025:
1015:
1005:
1004:J. T. Kare,
1000:
992:
987:
978:
968:
956:. Retrieved
952:the original
937:
904:
900:
894:
886:
878:
873:
840:
836:
830:
809:
801:
789:
784:
756:
751:
743:
738:
728:
723:
706:
671:. Retrieved
667:the original
657:
647:, retrieved
642:
635:
576:space debris
569:
565:
542:
533:
515:
514:
510:
505:
504:
491:
478:
455:
437:
416:
407:
402:
400:
377:
354:
350:phased array
335:
328:
303:
297:
294:
279:
273:
265:interstellar
255:
249:
241:ion thruster
234:
210:
206:
192:
170:
166:
151:
144:
136:working mass
130:Rockets are
129:
114:
105:
94:Please help
89:verification
86:
63:
52:
19:
18:
2431:Moore's law
2362:Neuroethics
2357:Cyberethics
2185:Mass driver
2058:Aerocapture
2053:Aerobraking
1934:Open system
1918:"Lightbulb"
1859:Mass driver
1609:Propellants
1540:Diffractive
572:laser broom
462:Jordin Kare
423:Leik Myrabo
380:mass driver
373:Jordin Kare
338:diffraction
316:mass ratios
44:light sails
2498:Categories
2322:Automation
2272:Solar sail
2227:Propulsion
2078:Warp drive
1908:Salt-water
1626:Hypergolic
1535:Solar sail
1304:2016-12-08
1192:August 11,
1053:2016-12-08
958:2007-02-28
877:P. Lubin,
777:full paper
673:2009-08-31
649:2018-06-07
627:References
549:helicopter
440:lightcraft
438:Myrabo's "
403:lightcraft
397:Lightcraft
391:Lightcraft
300:solar sail
221:desorption
147:jet engine
68:Background
2352:Bioethics
1621:Cryogenic
929:0022-4650
865:0094-5765
794:, Vol. 50
557:rectifier
488:Economics
479:In 2002,
361:MMPP sail
284:Microwave
271:project.
32:microwave
1913:Gas core
1448:Concepts
1355:Archived
1269:. NASA.
1222:Fox News
1160:July 19,
1151:Archived
1047:archived
773:abstract
682:cite web
583:See also
561:rectenna
543:In 1964
331:Starwisp
276:rectenna
132:momentum
55:megawatt
24:aircraft
2195:Skyhook
2002:Tethers
1854:MagBeam
1739:Gridded
1494:Staging
1487:Delta-v
1395:YouTube
1123:Bibcode
909:Bibcode
845:Bibcode
621:DEEP-IN
601:MagBeam
553:antenna
413:Testing
324:Andrews
261:delta-V
2347:Ethics
2315:Topics
2265:VASIMR
2167:Launch
2150:Fields
1828:VASIMR
1477:Thrust
1455:Rocket
1105:
927:
863:
818:
369:plasma
320:Landis
140:energy
2281:Other
1837:Other
1583:State
1186:(PDF)
1179:(PDF)
1154:(PDF)
1143:(PDF)
879:et al
495:JASON
177:maser
36:laser
34:or a
2482:List
1567:WINE
1194:2010
1162:2016
1103:ISBN
925:ISSN
861:ISSN
816:ISBN
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