Laser propulsion - Research status and needs

Laser propulsion consists of using energy from a remotely located laser to heat a low-molecular-weight gas to extremely high temperatures and then expand the gas through a nozzle to provide thrust. Because of the potential for high specific impulse with adequate thrust to provide reasonable transit times, laser propulsion can be considered for a wide range of mission applications. This article is an overview of the status of continuous laser propulsion and is based on discussions with the research community and a review of recent literature. It describes some of the challenges and opportunities for close collaboration among fluid mechanics, optics, and plasma physics basic research areas.