NASA:s new laser propulsion can open the route to all Solar system

Laser propulsion spacecraft
(Picture 1)

Kimmo Huosionmaa

NASA is testing new laser propulsion system, what is actually only the solar sail, what will give more push with the laser system. The laser will target the spacecraft, what is equipped with very large and thin mylar sheet, what takes the power of the movements also from the solar radiation. The small space-probe would be in the middle of sail, and its weight might be the only couple of grams because it is made with the state of art miniaturized technology, and equipped with highly developed artificial intelligence. That allows the spacecraft to operate independently in the all solar system.


But the high power laser systems can give more push to those spacecraft, and the unmanned lightweight version can reach the planet Mars in three days (72 hours), and manned version can travel that trip in the month, and this kind of vehicles can also travel all around our solar system. The mylar sheet is necessary because the very large area of that sheet will deliver the heat energy in the large area, and that denies the overheating of that structure. The mylar sheet might also use as the communication antenna if it will be covered by the very thin iron surface.


That antenna would also transmit the electric power to that very small space probe,  what can be made by the integrated micro-circuit technology. The electric supply will give the space probe with the radio-masers, what will also work as the communication systems. The manned system would be much bigger, and it can use the way that Nuclear rocket will be launched to the Martian orbiter to wait for the crew. And then the crew will send to Mars with this solar- or laser sail.


When the mission is completed, the crew will return to the Earth with the nuclear rocket. Using the laser to send the satellites in the Earth orbiter would give the NASA very cheap and clean way to shoot satellites outside Earth atmosphere. The laser is non-poisonous propulsion system, what is also noiseless and because there is no need for the chemicals, the launch will be extremely cheap. And because this powerful laser system can also use for ASAT (Anti Satellite) and ABM (Anti Ballistic Missile) purposes, and that's why also military forces might be interested in that laser-based equipment.

Sources:

Picture 1

https://www.sciencealert.com/images/Sail.png

Other sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf5Fbx0nl50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhUasBcoj-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owitVAgcrTI