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NASA Flies First Laser-powered Aircraft
unassimilatible writes "NASA has successfully tested a small-scale aircraft that flies solely by means of propulsive power delivered by an invisible, ground-based laser. How far away can in-flight IP/LASER broadband be?"
This is the technology they want to use to power the space elevator.
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Now, did I say they used the same principle? Thanks, I did RTFA. :-)
Laser driven Space Sails (ok not solar in this case, but light-driven, although they would prob use solar as well) use the momentum of the photons to push the craft forward - but you still need a damn powerful laser to do it effectively..
Laser driven space sails are one of the few feasable technologies we really have that could be used for sending probes interstellar distances in a viable time-scale.
The 2 concepts have the same sort of principle idea - if you dont have to carry fuel, a craft can keep aloft/accelerating for very long periods of time..
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They directed a laser beam at photaic cells? Nice other name than solar panel. OK, the laser powered plain flies as long a laser hits it. But still the plain is carrying it fuel (photaic cell aka solar panel) on board, as meantion in the introduction. This is no breakthrough but rather a toy for big children.
Hmmm, a system capable of tracking the precise position of an aircraft? You mean like RADAR?
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From the article:
The plane, with its five-foot wingspan, weighs only 11 ounces and is constructed from balsa wood, carbon fiber tubing and is covered with Mylar film, a cellophane-like material.... The lightweight, low-speed plane was flown indoors at Marshall to prevent wind and weather from affecting the test flights.... Without the need for onboard fuel or batteries, such a plane could carry scientific or communication equipment, for instance, and stay in flight indefinitely.
Okay, they've gotten a plane they weighs less than my foot with a wingspan longer than most 12 year-olds are tall to fly where there's no wind.
Does this have any practical application where a helium blimp -- or a simple antannae -- wouldn't be a better choice? I mean, even if we had something decent sized, this thing's gotta keep moving and sucking energy or it'll come crashing to the ground. It doesn't even hover. And it's not like this has applications with passengers.
But then we find the answer, again from the linked article...
Laser power beaming is a promising technology for future development of aircraft design and operations. The concept supports NASA's mission-critical goals for the development of revolutionary aerospace technologies.
As an ex-on-site government contractor (not that that's required to have a clue here), I think I might see what's going on. NASA has grant money for "revolutionary aerospace tech" and this company is happy to create something impractical that'll soak up enough dough to pay them for a few years. Wish we'd quit looking for new stuff and just send another 1960s capsule to the moon and back.
I realize that's pretty cynical... But honestly, where's a good treatment (better than the article) of what this sort of thing is pratically good for?
It's all 0s and 1s. Or it's not.
This is cool but I like China's space program better...they are going to be doing manned exploration of S P A C E.
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If they are using laser beams to power a generator in the plane, why don't they use this to solve our energy distribution problem? In blackouts, just beam power to cities by laser.
Or cities could just use that big natural free radiation source called the Sun.
Niven & Pournelle's Footfall is a closer match. Aliens invade Earth and during the occupation, use ground-to-orbit shuttles that are partially launched by ground-based lasers. The lasers push the shuttle to an altitude where it's "safe" to crank up the main engine. Some resistance fighters manage to damage one laser ground-station during a launch, causing the loss of the shuttle, but they're subsequently creamed by the mothership. I don't remember if the shuttles glide to land, or come down ass-first onto the laser...