Photon Propulsion System Could Revolutionize Space Travel to Mars

A new era in space frontier is upon us. If the photon thruster constructed with off-the-shelf components by Dr. Young Bae of the Bae Institute proves itself as a commercial, civilian, or military viable tool then truly, space is the limit. In December 2006, he first demonstrated his Photonic Laser Thruster (PLT) which produced a photon thrust of 35 µN that can be enhanced to attain much superior thrust for future space operations

Photon particles inherently have no electric charge and have zero rest mass, hence deemed infertile for producing thrust. Herein, the PLT system was able to invigorate thrust capable fertility by bouncing photons several times between two mirrors. The experiment as demonstrated by Dr. Bae used photon beam amplification system and a photonic laser to generate photonic energy.

If photonic energy is amplified, a resultant thrust can be produced between two spacecraft by bouncing photons thousands of times between them. The photon thrust generated with an amplification factor of 3,000 was accomplished with a laser head the size of a golf ball, comparable to thrust generated by much heavier and larger industrial lasers.For decades, scientists have been grappling with inherent inefficiencies of photon thrusters. But the PLT places an optical cavity between two stable platforms to generate steady and dependable thrust, impervious to vibration and mirror movement. In addition to the trust produced, the lack of vibration and mirror movement is ideal for space vehicle propulsion or control. The PLT research was partly funded by a grant from the prestigious NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts (NIAC).

Furthermore, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and NASA have evinced strong interest in the PLT. Aerospace firms have also shown a keen interest in the PLT and the promise it holds for commercial, military, and civilian space applications.

In addition to boosting space vehicles to unthinkable speeds of more than 100 km/sec in future space missions, other space applications of the PLT include but are not limited to precision propellant free, thus contaminant-free spacecraft docking missions and nano-precise satellite formation flying configurations.The PLT concept as envisioned by Bae opens wide endless possibilities for aerospace in all spheres. It may be possible that a PLT powered space vehicle could traverse the 100 million km to Mars within a week. In sum, the PLT brings us one step closer to tangible space travel and space exploration to benefit mankind.