Light Beamer | Cost

The estimated cost of the laser array is based on extrapolation from the past two decades, and the prospects of mass production to reduce the associated cost.

Laser amplifier costs declined exponentially between 1990 and 2015, halving approximately every 1.5 years (18 months). If this this trend were to continue, it would bring the construction cost a large beamer orders of magnitude lower within the next decades.

Research:

Jan 27, 2017 10:30 michael.million@sky.com Posted on: Centauri Dreams

By firing these kinetic sails into comets or asteroids we could refine the sails control systems to a greater accuracy while working on our Starshot concept, sort of ironing out the details but at the same time providing benefits on the go.

Feb 02, 2017 18:54 Breakthrough Initiatives Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

RE:
"Jan 06, 2017 08:22 michael.million@sky.com Posted on: Centauri Dreams

We will need at some point to invest in an asteroid/comet defence system, this laser at full power would pack a huge punch. We could fire these sail discs at high velocity to open the objects crust and allow either the Sunlight or laser power to disperse and move it. We could also use these discs to probe other objects around the solar system for study, it is all the other tasks this laser system could offer that makes it much more attractive. Starshot maybe just be the final goal but the amount of tasks completed in the mean time during that journey would be enormous."

Answer:
Thank you for your consideration. I agree with your comments thanks for all your enthusiasm.

- Pete Klupar, Breakthrough Starshot

Feb 28, 2017 11:02 Breakthrough Initiatives Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

RE:
"Jan 27, 2017 10:30 michael.million@sky.com Posted on: Centauri Dreams

By firing these kinetic sails into comets or asteroids we could refine the sails control systems to a greater accuracy while working on our Starshot concept, sort of ironing out the details but at the same time providing benefits on the go."

Answer:
Thanks for your input and help. This is precisely what we were considering in the second phase of our project which we call the prototype phase. We anticipate this to begin sometime in the 2020’s.

- Pete Klupar, Breakthrough Starshot

Apr 22, 2017 14:03 Brent Batla Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

Instead of building a ground based light Beamer on a huge scale, why not build cheaper, smaller ones that can be launched very soon into an orbit around Saturn and then Pluto. By the time they got there, hopefully the craft would be not too far behind. As the craft passed them, they could progressively increase velocity at a closer range, needing less energy. ∆v on the craft! I want to see this in my lifetime!

Apr 22, 2017 20:18 michael.million@sky.com Posted on: Centauri Dreams

Quite a few of these technology systems could be tested in space on launched satellites for very little if any cost to see how they behave in space such as the camera and laser transmission systems by simply attaching them to the spacecraft.

Jul 15, 2017 03:24 Breakthrough Initiatives Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

RE:
Apr 22, 2017 14:03Brent Batla Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

Answer:
Building space-based laser systems of the size and power required for Starshot would be very difficult and likely prohibitively expensive, even if they could be smaller than the single ground-based laser currently envisioned.

- Zac Manchester, Breakthrough Starshot

Jul 15, 2017 03:25 Breakthrough Initiatives Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

RE:
Apr 22, 2017 20:18michael.million@sky.com Posted on: Centauri Dreams

Answer:
Yes, many of the Starshot technologies can be tested experimentally in the near term – both on the ground and in orbit.

- Zac Manchester, Breakthrough Starshot

Jul 11, 2022 03:57 Impericalsrb@yahoo.com Posted on: Breakthrough Initiatives

I've read comments about using or testing this technology on asteroids.
Kinda comical.
The mass of the proposed craft would have little to no effect on an asteroid of any size or density. Trying to put this lightweight craft in Earth orbit, then using a ground based laser to aim it at where an asteroid would be is also nearly impossible.

The laser idea would be better, applied directly to the asteroid, from a nearby ship equipped for the mission. Even then, we would only expect a small course change over an extended period of time.

And, as always, with any light or laser based on the ground, our atmosphere also becomes an issue.

But you know this.

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