After almost 10 years of research, Leik Myrabo has claimed that his vision of building a laser beam-propelled “LightCraft” will be a reality by 2020. In April 1999 Myrabo wrote an article describing his ambitious plans of constructing an orbiting solar-power station (which could beam laser beam at in-flight LightCraft) and LightPorts (propelling laser system based on earth). These could then be used to transport people into space.

However, sceptics have been pointing out the limitations of the system, including the fact that lasers aren’t powerful enough yet, and that the propellant carried by the LightCraft there is insufficient. Phil Coyle, who is a senior adviser to the Center for Defense Information, Washington, D.C, told Wired.com that,

The propellant runs out before the LightCraft gets very far, it’s sort of like trying to blow a paper airplane across the room with your own breath. You can give it a push with your first puff, but then the paper airplane is too far away and you can’t blow enough air to keep it going.

Myrabo himself has stated that this project can only be successful if the aviation industry cooperates in development of more powerful lasers. He claims that if this system is built then it can make orbital flight 1000 times cheaper. Lets see what the future unfolds.

Via: sciam421365