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Beaming into Space

Posted by michael on from the do-not-look-into-beam-with-remaining-eye dept.

HobbySpacer writes "At this week's 1st Int. Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion in Huntsville a wide range of laser and microwave propulsion schemes are being presented. The big news so far is the announcement by Gregory Benford of plans for a test of microwave propulsion with the Cosmos Sail, due to fly early next year. The possibilities of using lasers to deflect incoming asteroids & comets are also under discussion."

1 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A simple proposal by TheOnlyCoolTim · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What we really need to do is convince some multi-billionare (like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or one of those Middle East Oil Sheiks) to jumpstart humanity's expansion into space out of their own pockets.

    Start with a space elevator, price tag 10 - 40 Billion dollars. Then maybe build a *NICE* space station on top of it, which should cost much less. Use the space station to build a spaceship for the purpose of bringing an insanely mineral rich asteroid back to Earth orbit. Establish a mining base on the asteroid.

    3. Profit.

    Tim

    --
    Omnia vestra castrorum habetur nobis.