[ExI] Fwd: [Artemis] The Obama-Biden Transition Team looking into Space Based Solar Power.

[Kevin H]

Thanks for the reply.  One thing that nags me though.

On 12/7/08, hkhenson <hkhenson at rogers.com> wrote:
>
> At 04:19 PM 12/7/2008, Kevin wrote:
>
Even with rockets you can make a case, though I think a weak case.   You can
> make a much stronger case with either the partial elevator that ends a
> planetary diameter out or using a rocket to pop up above the atmosphere and
> push the payload with an ablation propulsion laser.


I've been doing my best to google laser ablative propulsion and I've found a
few links but few sources.  If you have any references I'd be happy to look
at them.  But I did find one article that seems to ring pessimistic:

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/laser_propulsion_000705.html

"Cole sees a 21st century where passenger-carrying space vehicles might be
powered upward on laser light. That laser would churn out 100 gigawatts of
power, he admits.

'That's 10,000 times bigger than any laser that's been built. But, hey, I'll
take whatever works,' Cole said."

So, what size of a laser are we talking about?  Does it really take a 100
gigawatt laser to launch a couple of passengers into space?  Is this a
realistic laser we're talking about, or a megaproject as a prerequisite for
another megaproject?

Thanks,

Kevin
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