Transfers from Earth to LEO and LEO to interplanetary space using lasers

Abstract New data on some materials at 80ps pulse duration and 1057 nm wavelength give us the option of proportionally combining them to obtain arbitrary values between 35 (aluminum) and 800 N/MW (POM, polyoxymethylene) for momentum coupling coefficient C m . Laser ablation physics lets us transfer to LEO from Earth, or to interplanetary space using repetitively pulsed lasers and C m values appropriate for each mission. We discuss practical results for lifting small payloads from Earth to LEO, and space missions such as a cis-Mars orbit with associated laser system parameters.