Ablative Laser Propulsion
Ablative Laser Propulsion or ALP is a form of beam-powered propulsion in which an external laser is used to burn off a plasma plume from a solid metal propellent, thus producing thrust. The measured specific impulse of small ALP setups is very high at about 5000 s (49 kN·s/kg), and unlike the lightcraft developed by Leik Myrabo which uses air as the propellant, ALP can be used in space.
ALP is being developed by Professors Andrew Pakhomov at the University of Alabama in Huntsville of the UAH Laser Propulsion Group.
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Categories: Spacecraft propulsion | Lasers