Page:Project Longshot - Advanced Design Program Project Report.pdf/68

Laser-Pumped Light Sail

Assumptions:

1) 100% of laser is focused onto the sail continuously for one year.

2) the solar energy to pressure ratio holds true for the specific laser used.

At 1 A.U.:

1353 watts/square meter from the sun

and

4.6E-6 N/square meter from the sun

therefore,

2.94E8 watts/N.

Payload Mass = 30,000 kg

Delta V required = 13500 km/sec

Time interval = 31,472,262 sec (1 year)

Therefore,

Required acceleration = .429 m/sec squared

and

The force required = 1268.8 N

So that with a laser operating at 100% efficiency

Required power = 3.78E12 watts