4 ms·

Could the microwave source be put in orbit? This might make it easier to track the rocket as their relative speeds would become closer and closer as the rocket

Could the microwave source be put in orbit? This might make it easier to track the rocket as their relative speeds would become closer and closer as the rocket reaches orbit. One could imagine standard jet propulsion for the first stage, before the microwave rocket kicks in.

maho 11y ago
To me, the better idea would be to place mirrors in orbit that focus solar radiation on the rocket. A sort of ground-based-microwave/space-based-solar hybrid rocket.
- arijun 11y ago
  From the FAQ in the article: >Similar to laser or microwave beams, longer distances require larger dishes due to the effect of optical diffraction. However, sunlight is only partially coherent (unlike lasers and masers), so regardless of the actual size of the reflector used, it behaves as if it was coherent light emitted from a reflector that is only 70 microns in diameter. It is possible to show that at a distance of 350 km, as would be needed for launching rockets to orbit, such a beam spreads out to a spot size that is 6 km in diameter. Although the distances might be smaller if the mirror was in space, I imagine they would still not be small enough.
gusgordon 11y ago
You would need to have huge amounts of batteries on the satellite, like 15 tons of lithium ion batteries per kg you want to get to orbit, or a nuclear reactor. Then you have the fun problem where if you miss the heat exchanger you have a death ray.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]