Scifi Laser Launch Systems

[Spacescifi]

 

Laser assisted launch can be done using light craft, using either laser or microwave beams. In tests, is observed that higher the crafts flew upward the more u stable the craft became (toppled over a lot).

 

Yet I think this could be fixed with a sufficient number of lasers or microwave beams targeting the craft.

 

 

So basically, with sufficiently powered lasers you could launch anything you want from Earth no matter the size.

 

However when laser beam heat is too intensr, you need active cooling. So that again involves burning some propellant. But overall you could launch a lot of small spacecraft and build a big one relatively quickly in orbit using this system.

 

EDIT: If laser degragation over distance is a big problem,  just hook lasers up to a floating baloon network of helium balloons tehthered and powered via ground stations. Gives the lasers more range.

 

Traveling to other worlds: Ideally you're just going to do some ISRU, no matter how many weeks it takes on your small SSTO and then go back to orbit to meet the with the mothership, which itself is made of smaller craft assembled in orbit via laser induced/air plasma/along with LOX or methane augmented propulsion rocketry. If the world is not habital then use a robocraft SSTO for this. Only send down people once a habitat has been actualky constructed where they can live. If the cosmos is filled with Earth worlds like popular scifi often depicts, you can send people. Do note that sending them back to orbit will be an ISRU fuel waiting game. Unless you have drop some AM powered floaty lasers on an ocean and have enough spare propellant to reach orbit again with your SSTO.

 

You may discuss the viability of this in the future.

 

Provided we crack sustained fusion or good antimatter production and storage then it means you need less lasers to do the same launch, just enough to keep craft stable.

 

You may discuss.

 

EDIT:  Even if the tech is viable, future humanity would have to be more mature than current humanity. Since a launch system like this, indeed any good launch system can be weaponized.

Edited December 1, 2019 by Spacescifi

[kerbiloid]

47 minutes ago, Spacescifi said:

future humanity would have to be more mature than current humanity.

That's true. Who needs those lasers-schmasers when you have a simple resonant repulsor.

[wumpus]

Escape Dynamics (2010-2015) was pitching this system.  You might want to look into their ads/whitepapers/claims.  I think they were using microwaves for any test/prototypes.