Tokyo University's "Microwave Rocket"

LiftOp writes "Apparently a group from Tokyo University's Department of Advanced Energy has used a high-power microwave beam to heat the air beneath a model rocket , sending it skyward (well, two meters). Dr. Kimiya Komurasaki, who led the group, seems to be quite a directed energy buff; when the rocket eventually gets beyond the air level, a conventional motor could be used to send it further."

Comments

high energy ?

[ddd2k]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't using microwave radiation to heat the air consume a lot of energy than burning solid fuel? If so, wheres the applicable purpose?

Footfall

[mattsucks]

Reminds me of the book "Footfall", by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. The climax of that book has a space vessel launched with atomic bomb explosions as the propulsive force. check it out.

microwave

[savuporo]

Microwaves (~100GHZ range ) get through the air almost without energy loss, thats what makes Solar Power Satellites concept feasible at all. I dont remember which, but one Japanese semiconductor corp is planning to put up small sats to beam power to handheld devices via microwave.