NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Award
Funding: up to $125,000
Study Period: 9 months

Light Bender
Charles Taylor
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, Va.

Synopsis

Light Bender is a novel concept for the generation and distribution of power on the lunar surface within the context of the Artemis mission and the “Long-Term Human Lunar Surface Presence” that will follow. The innovative concept is based on a heliostat that utilizes Cassegrain telescope optics as the primary means to capture, concentrate and focus the sun’s light.

Laser Propulsion: Wild Idea May Finally Shine
Space.com

New laser propulsion experiments are throwing light on how to build future hypersonic aircraft and beam spacecraft into Earth orbit.

Indeed, a “Lightcraft revolution” could replace today’s commercial jet travel. Passengers would be whisked from one side of the planet to the other in less than an hour – just enough time to get those impenetrable bags of peanuts open. Furthermore, beamed energy propulsion can make flight to orbit easy, instead of tenuous and dangerous.

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Laser-Powered Aircraft Are The Future of Flight. Maybe
Wired

Aerospace engineer Leik Myrabo is absolutely sure lasers are the future of flight, and he’s confident we’ll be flying at hypersonic speed using beam-powered propulsion within a generation….

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The Next Big Future blog has a very interesting look at laser powered space launches.

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