www.ditl.org

I'm sure some of you have heard of this.

Of course they always make it seem so plausible but what are some possible problems?

Or is this yet another great idea tragically underfunded?


Granted beam powered propulsion is not a new concept. I'm specifically wondering about the large flying saucer balloon thing they mention in the last half of the video [video mentions its partly filled with helium].

You gotta wonder how efficient it is. And just how high power a laser would you need to launch a serious craft this way? Presumably it wouldn't work well in fog/rain/cloud/snow, but if it's being used for space launches that's not such a big deal. They wait for good conditions anyway.

Graham Kennedy wrote:You gotta wonder how efficient it is. And just how high power a laser would you need to launch a serious craft this way? Presumably it wouldn't work well in fog/rain/cloud/snow, but if it's being used for space launches that's not such a big deal. They wait for good conditions anyway.

Good point about the weather, hadn't thought of that.

Though, if its being powered by a space-based solar-powered MASER, is efficiency really an issue? The sun pumps out about 23,000 TW per year, most of which goes unused by humanity.

The video actually mentions using microwaves instead of lasers for that very reason.