XPost: sci.space.policy   
   From: gherbert@retro.com   
      
   zoltan  wrote:   
   >Has anybody investigated the use of microwave beamed power as a way of   
   >eliminating the first stage of a rocket? [...]   
      
   You want to look to the work of Liek Myrabo.   
      
   He's done too much to summarize easily in one posting, but he has   
   looked at a large number of laser and microwave externally powered   
   rockets and ramjets of various types.   
      
   A number of his more advanced concepts are thought by other experts   
   either to not work, or be so speculative as to functionally be   
   science fiction.  However, he also has done test flights of more   
   nearterm practical stuff such as pulsed laser / air propelled   
   craft using a large USAF IR laser, which amount to essentially   
   all the actual flight test experience to date with externally   
   powered rockets in an atmsophere.   
      
   Other experts in similar areas include Jordin Kare, who is   
   focused on laser propulsion.   
      
      
   -george william herbert   
   gherbert@retro.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)