Publisher:Pasadena, CA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2019
Citation:36th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Vienna, Austria, September 15-20, 2019
Abstract:
This paper investigates the feasibility of a propulsion system architecture that may enable missions with characteristic velocities in the range 100 to 200 km/s. The conceptual architecture is based on the use of a kilometer-scale, space-based, phased-array laser with an output power of hundreds of megawatts that beams power over distances up to 40 au to a receiving vehicle.