Laser Light Craft

Laser light craft are some of the most promising future propulsion crafts, of which a working prototype currently exists. The propulsion system itself has no actual moving parts. It works by using a specially shaped mirror onto which a laser is pointed. The mirror's shape focuses the light to a certain point, where its heat causes a small explosion from the air. This explosion works just like a normal rocket engine, and propels the craft.

In tests, a highly reflective metal craft about 4 inches long, and 4 inches in diameter, has been spin stabilized and with high power lasers left over from the Star Wars program the craft has been propelled 100 ft. The scientists are currently awaiting further funding for larger, more powerful lasers, and for larger test craft.

The advantages of a laser light craft are that the laser can be shot through long distances of space and still be effective. The reasons for this is that a laser beam is a coherent form of light, meaning it won't spread out or lose intensity over many hundreds of thousands of miles.


The ion drive
Fusion and antimatter drives
Light sails
Laser propelled light craft
Space Tethers
Ramjet/Scramjet engines
Other earth to orbit propulsion
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