# Lightcraft

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Aerospace craft utilizing beam-powered propulsion

Lightcraft being propelled by laser

The **Lightcraft** is a [space-](/source/Spacecraft) or [air-](/source/Aircraft)[vehicle](/source/Vehicle) driven by [beam-powered propulsion](/source/Beam-powered_propulsion), the energy source powering the craft being external. It was conceptualized by [aerospace engineering](/source/Aerospace_engineering) professor [Leik Myrabo](/source/Leik_Myrabo) at [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/source/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute) in 1976,[1] who developed the concept further with working prototypes,[2] funded in the 1980s by the [Strategic Defense Initiative](/source/Strategic_Defense_Initiative) organization, and the decade after by the *Advanced Concept Division* of the [US Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) [AFRL](/source/Air_Force_Research_Laboratory), [NASA](/source/NASA)'s [MFSC](/source/Marshall_Space_Flight_Center) and the [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory](/source/Lawrence_Livermore_National_Laboratory).[3][4][5]

When a Lightcraft is in the atmosphere, air is used as the propellant material (reaction mass). In space, it would need to provide the propellant material from onboard tanks or from an [ablative](/source/Ablation) solid. By leaving the vehicle's power source on the ground and by using ambient atmosphere as a reaction mass for much of its ascent, a Lightcraft could potentially be capable of delivering a very large percentage of its launch mass to orbit as an [SSTO](/source/Single-stage-to-orbit), a difficult task for [chemical rockets](/source/Rocket_engine#Terminology). As such, a Lightcraft is distinct from a [solar sail](/source/Solar_sail) because it is dependent on the expansion of [reaction mass](/source/Reaction_mass) to accelerate rather than being accelerated by [light pressure](/source/Radiation_pressure) alone. Within the atmosphere, the Lightcraft propulsion is dependent on the external laser power only, so propulsive power is not limited to that generated by usual on-board machinery (i.e. [rockets](/source/Rocket)).[6]

## Types

### Laser-powered propulsion

Profile view of a laser Lightcraft type 200

First small-scale models used [laser propulsion](/source/Laser_propulsion) which is a technique still in early stages of development. Lightcraft prototypes are made of solid [aluminium](/source/Aluminium) machined [axisymmetrically](/source/Rotational_symmetry#Rotational_symmetry_with_respect_to_any_angle_shape). The nose is shaped as a [blunted cone](/source/Nose_cone_design) for [aerodynamical](/source/Aerodynamics) purpose. The rim has an annular air [inlet](/source/Intake). The aft is a funnel polished as a [concave mirror](/source/Curved_mirror#Concave_mirrors) with a pointed tail in the middle extending back out of the body, acting as a [parabolic reflector](/source/Parabolic_reflector).

A ground-based [laser](/source/Laser) aims a high power pulse to the mirror stern. The beam is reflected and focuses to heat the air at an extremely high temperature up to 30,000 degrees, transforming it in a plasma that violently expands, pushing the craft forward. Air is renewed through the inlet and the cycle is repeated at high frequency, acting as an external [pulse detonation engine](/source/Pulse_detonation_engine) producing thrust.[7]

In April 1997, tests by Leik Myrabo in cooperation with the [US Army](/source/United_States_Army) at [White Sands Missile Range](/source/White_Sands_Missile_Range) demonstrated the basic feasibility to propel objects in this way, using a 10-kW ground-based pulsed [carbon dioxide laser](/source/Carbon_dioxide_laser) (1 kJ per pulse, 30 μs pulse at 10 Hz frequency). The test succeeded in reaching over one hundred feet, which compares to [Robert Goddard](/source/Robert_Goddard_(scientist))'s first test flight of his rocket design.[2]

In October 2000, a new flight record was set with a flight lasting 10.5 seconds and reaching 71 meters (233 feet) using the same laser, but this time providing an on-board plastic ablative propellant, and rotating the body around its axis at high speed (over 10,000 [rpm](/source/Revolutions_per_minute)) to stabilize the craft with a [gyroscopic effect](/source/Gyroscope).[8][9][6]

Lightcraft use a type of [beam-powered propulsion](/source/Beam-powered_propulsion).[10]

### Microwave-powered and MHD propulsion

More advanced concepts of the Lightcraft replace the laser pulses by a [microwave](/source/Microwave) beam or [maser](/source/Maser) that can still be ground-based, or alternatively put into [orbit](/source/Orbit), the beams being emitted from above the ascending craft by a series of [space-based solar power](/source/Space-based_solar_power) [satellites](/source/Satellite) that could more easily keep track of the Lightcraft along its curved [ballistic trajectory](/source/Ballistics).

The microwave beam [detonates](/source/Detonation) the air below the craft exactly like the laser version, but some energy from the beam is also diverted and converted on board by high-power [rectennas](/source/Rectenna) into [electricity](/source/Electricity) to power an [external-flow airbreathing MHD drive](/source/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive#Typology) called by Myrabo an *MHD slipstream accelerator*.[11][12][13][14]

As an MHD accelerator works only with an [electrically conductive](/source/Electrical_resistivity_and_conductivity) medium, some of the incoming microwaves are also diverted within the Lightcraft through a series of transparent windows and mirror sections, then re-emitted in the air near the [electrodes](/source/Electrode) of the MHD accelerators located around the rim. The air becomes ionized in these places, allowing MHD interaction of [Lorentz forces](/source/Lorentz_force) to actively control the [airflow](/source/Airflow) around a discoidal shape that otherwise (i.e. passively) has very bad aerodynamical properties due to its largest surface, a flat plate, being perpendicular to the flow.[15]

Finally, a laser or some part of the microwaves are also focused as a *plasma torch* at some distance above the Lightcraft, creating an [aerospike](/source/Drag-reducing_aerospike) that detaches and mitigates the bow [shock wave](/source/Shock_wave) ahead of the craft when it evolves at [supersonic speeds](/source/Supersonic_speed), lowering heat transfert to the walls. The distance and intensity of the aerospike are tuned according to the [atmospheric pressure](/source/Atmospheric_pressure), [temperature gradients](/source/Temperature_gradient) and [velocity](/source/Velocity) of the airflow to actively shape the shock wave so the [boundary layer](/source/Boundary_layer) can be optimally controlled by the radial MHD slipstream accelerators.[16][17][18]

The Lightcraft concept thus combines [magnetohydrodynamic](/source/Magnetohydrodynamics) [active flow control](/source/Active_flow_control) and beam-powered propulsion mechanisms to enable [hypersonic flight](/source/Hypersonic_flight), solving the classical problem of aerial MHD propulsion (i.e. lack of a light power source offering enough energy to feed such systems) by outsourcing the power source. Using microwaves instead of a laser allows four combined actions: propulsive detonation, shockwave mitigation, ionization control and electrical feeding of MHD drives.[19]

## Status

In 2008, the Office of Scientific and Technical Information of the [US Department of Energy](/source/United_States_Department_of_Energy) published an article on the official website in which its author William Larson[20] talks about successfully completed research in this area.[21]

After Leik Myrabo's retirement from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2011, the homepage of his private company *Lightcraft Technologies, Inc.* (LTI) disappeared with a temporary notification explaining that a "site renovation" was ongoing. The old LTI logo and the small-scale model of the laser Lightcraft prototype of the 1990s were swapped for the occasion with a new logo and an artist image showing a full-scale lenticular microwave-powered Lightcraft with active peripheral MHD slipstream accelerators in orbit above the Earth.[22] This plasma thruster image is shown on the cover of Myrabo's book about the Lightcraft.[19]

That presaged new developments but the site went eventually completely offline and never reappeared since. At that time though, laser aerospike and [PDE](/source/Pulse_detonation_engine) testing continued in the hypersonic [wind tunnel](/source/Wind_tunnel) of the *Laboratory of Hypersonics and Aerothermodynamics* at the [Department of Aerospace Science and Technology](/source/Department_of_Aerospace_Science_and_Technology) of the [Brazilian Air Force](/source/Brazilian_Air_Force) in [São José dos Campos](/source/S%C3%A3o_Jos%C3%A9_dos_Campos).[23]

## See also

- [Spaceflight portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Spaceflight)

- [Beam-powered propulsion](/source/Beam-powered_propulsion)

- [Field propulsion](/source/Field_propulsion)

- [Magnetohydrodynamic drive](/source/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive)

- [Elevator:2010](/source/Elevator%3A2010)

- [Non-rocket spacelaunch](/source/Non-rocket_spacelaunch)

- [List of laser articles](/source/List_of_laser_articles)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_1976_1-0)** [Myrabo, L.N.](/source/Leik_Myrabo) (1976). ["MHD propulsion by absorption of laser radiation"](http://ayuba.fr/pdf/myrabo1976.pdf) (PDF). *Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets*. **13** (8): 466–472. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1976JSpRo..13..466M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1976JSpRo..13..466M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/3.27919](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F3.27919).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Myrabo_1st_test_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Myrabo_1st_test_2-1) Myrabo, Leik N.; Messitt, Donald G.; Mead Jr., Franklin B. (January 1998). "36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit". *AIAA-98-1001*. 36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Reno, NV. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.1998-1001](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.1998-1001).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Popular_Mechanics_1995_3-0)** Pope, Gregory T. (September 1995). ["Fly by microwaves"](http://ayuba.fr/pdf/popmech1995.pdf) (PDF). *Popular Mechanics*. pp. 44–45.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wired_4-0)** Demerjian, Ave (20 February 2009). ["Laser-powered aircraft are the future of flight. Maybe"](https://www.wired.com/2009/02/beamed-energy-i/). *Wired*. Retrieved 2018-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PopSci_5-0)** Hsu, Jeremy (29 July 2009). ["Laser-Powered Lightcraft 'At the Cusp of Commercial Reality'"](http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-07/high-powered-lightcraft-experiments-hint-future-space-travel). *Popular Science*. Retrieved 2018-04-05.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NewSpace_2010_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NewSpace_2010_6-1) [NewSpace 2010 – Approaching Warp Speed: Advanced Space Propulsion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV75c8tTFdk&feature=youtu.be&t=10m) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) (Lightcraft presentation at time 10:00–32:00).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Centauri-Dreams_7-0)** Gilster, Paul (14 September 2009). ["Lightcraft: A Laser Push to Orbit"](https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2009/09/14/lightcraft-a-laser-push-to-orbit/). *Centauri Dreams*. Retrieved 2018-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_2nd_test_8-0)** Myrabo, Leik N. (July 2001). ["World record flights of beam-riding rocket lightcraft - Demonstration of 'disruptive' propulsion technology"](http://ayuba.fr/pdf/myrabo2001a.pdf) (PDF). *AIAA 2001-3798*. 37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Salt Lake City, UT. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.2001-3798](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.2001-3798).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-space.com_2000_9-0)** Leonard David (2 November 2000). ["Laser-Boosted Rocket Sets Altitude Record"](https://web.archive.org/web/20010413132547/http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/laser_craft_001103.html). *space.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/laser_craft_001103.html) on 13 April 2001. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_AIAA_2001_10-0)** Myrabo, Leik N. (8–11 July 2001). [*World record flights of beam-riding rocket lightcraft: Demonstration of "disruptive" propulsion technology*](https://ayuba.fr/pdf/myrabo2001a.pdf) (PDF). 37th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Salt Lake City, Utah: [American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics](/source/American_Institute_of_Aeronautics_and_Astronautics). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.2001-3798](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.2001-3798). AIAA 2001-3798. Retrieved 2025-10-23. LTI defines a Lightcraft as any flight platform, airborne vehicle, or spacecraft designed for propulsion by a beam of light - be it microwave or laser.{{[cite conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_conference)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_1999_11-0)** Myrabo, L. N.; Kerl, J.M.; et al. (June 1999). "35th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit". *AIAA-1999-2842*. 35th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Los Angeles, CA. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.1999-2842](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.1999-2842).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_2000a_12-0)** Myrabo, L. N.; et al. (January 2000). "38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit". *AIAA-00-0446*. 38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Reno, NV. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.2000-446](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.2000-446).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_2000b_13-0)** Myrabo, L. N.; et al. (July 2000). "36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit". *AIAA-00-3486*. 36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Huntsville, AL. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.2000-3486](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.2000-3486).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_2001b_14-0)** Myrabo, L.N.; et al. (July 2001). ["Experimental Investigation of a 2-D MHD Slipstream Accelerator: Progress Report"](http://ayuba.fr/pdf/myrabo2001b.pdf) (PDF). *AIAA-01-3799*. 35th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Salt Lake City, UT. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.2001-3799](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.2001-3799).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_plate_15-0)** Toro, P.G.P.; Rusak, Z.; Nagamatsu, H.T.; Myrabo, L.N. (January 1998). "36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit". *AIAA-98-0683*. 36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Reno, NV. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.1998-683](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.1998-683).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_airspike_16-0)** Toro, P.; Myrabo, L.; Nagamatsu, H. (January 1998). ["Pressure investigation of the hypersonic 'Directed-Energy Air Spike' inlet at Mach number 10 with arc power up to 70 kW"](http://ayuba.fr/pdf/myrabo1998c.pdf) (PDF). *36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit*. 36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Reno, NV. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.1998-991](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.1998-991).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_2001c_17-0)** Bracken, R.M.; Myrabo, L.N.; Nagamatsu, H.T.; Meloney, E.D.; Schneider, M.N. (July 2001). "37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit". *AIAA 01-3797*. 35th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. Salt Lake City, UT. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/6.2001-3797](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F6.2001-3797).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Myrabo_2005_18-0)** Minucci, M.A.S.; Toro, P.G.P.; Oliveira, A.C.; Ramos, A.G.; Chanes, J.B.; Pereira, A.L.; Nagamatsu, H.M.T.; Myrabo, L.N. (January 2005). ["Laser-Supported Directed-Energy 'Air Spike' in Hypersonic Flow"](http://ayuba.fr/pdf/myrabo2005.pdf) (PDF). *Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets*. **42** (1): 51–57. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005JSpRo..42...51M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005JSpRo..42...51M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2514/1.2676](https://doi.org/10.2514%2F1.2676).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Myrabo_book_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Myrabo_book_19-1) Myrabo, Leik N.; Lewis, John S. (May 2009). *Lightcraft Flight Handbook LTI-20: Hypersonic Flight Transport for an Era Beyond Oil*. Collector's Guide Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1926592039](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1926592039).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Larson, C. William (2008-04-28). ["Perspective on One Decade of Laser Propulsion Research at Air Force Research Laboratory"](https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21137140-perspective-one-decade-laser-propulsion-research-air-force-research-laboratory). *AIP Conference Proceedings*. **997** (1): 84–96. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008AIPC..997...84L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008AIPC..997...84L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1063/1.2931934](https://doi.org/10.1063%2F1.2931934). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0094-243X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0094-243X). [OSTI](/source/OSTI_(identifier)) [21137140](https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21137140).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Kucina, Marina (2021-08-10). ["Who will lead the neuro revolution? Denis Banchenko on space and psychokinetic"](https://samara.aif.ru/society/kto_vozglavit_neyrorevolyuciyu_denis_banchenko_o_kosmose_i_psihokinetike). *samara.aif.ru* (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-10-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LTI_website_22-0)** ["LTI website"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120309203240/http://www.lightcrafttechnologies.com/index.html). *Lightcraft Technologies, Inc*. Archived from [the original](http://www.lightcrafttechnologies.com) on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2020-02-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Centauri_Dreams_2009_23-0)** Gilster, Paul (15 September 2009). ["Lightcraft Experiments Continue"](https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2009/09/15/lightcraft-experiments-continue/). *Centauri Dreams*.

## External links

- [Rocketships Laser Propelled LightCraft](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_9ac-w4DW8) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) (presentation of the Lightcraft concept)

- [Laser Pumped Flying Saucer Spacecraft](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAdj6vpYppA) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) (working principles for laser and microwave-powered Lightcraft)

- [LightCraft Launch Oct 2000 - laserbeam powered propulsion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtH-SxqdtaA) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) (video of the first prototype)

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