At the state-of-the-art efficiencies, both nuclear and solar-driven systems require equal masses for the same laser powers in the 50 to 500 MW range, typically 3,700 tons for a 100-MW thruster. Future efficiency improvement of solar panel and laser diode array will realize significant reduction (by a factor of 3) in system masses. Beaming time for laser propulsion is relatively short and other missions should be considered for increasing the system duty cycle.
Earth Orbit Laser Systems
1989
5 pages
Report
No indication
English
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