P4_2 Beam Me Up

Abstract

The effects of sending a laser powered platform to low Earth orbit are investigated. We consider the effects of drag, attenuation by the atmosphere and divergence of the laser beam. It is found that a 1000kg platform could be accelerated to an altitude of 200km using an average laser power of 1.8 terawatts; however it is unfeasible to extend this argument to a much more massive space shuttle sized object.