Microwave powered rockets

[MartG]

A company is developing a rocket which is powered by microwaves from a ground station. Full article here

http://www.visiontimes.com/2015/07/22/this-company...

There was a similar system proposed years ago which used lasers to heat the air inside a chamber in the base of the spacecraft - operated like a pulse jet. I saw video of one of the model tests and it seemed to work OK, but would have required much more powerful lasers than were available at the time

[MartG]

ash73 said:

Quite a good sci-fi story to station a solar powered laser in close orbit around the Sun, and push planetary probes with sails around the solar system.

Or to send probes to the nearest stars ( see The Mote In God's Eye )

[Moonhawk]

ash73 said:

Japan have come up with a 2 petawatt laser, the DM compared it to the deathstar

A Death star worth 100 billion galactic standard credits - surely?

Edited by Moonhawk on Monday 3rd August 10:31