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Comments on First Flight of a Laser Powered Airplane
Today, NASA tested a laser-powered airplane: a 312-gram (11-ounce), 1.5-meter (five-foot) wingspan plane. A laser beam struck the photovoltaic cells that powered the tiny motor that turned its propeller. (Read
the complete story)
| "Kinda Reminds Me of TRON" (XONIKZ 12/16/2004 6:55:58 PM) |
| "Excellent web site. The broad-
based articles will appeal to
almost everyone with an IQ larger than a sponge. Personally, I would like to see more evaluations of the
new equipment that is now being used by civilian and
military, in order to make in-
formed judgements to contact
the politicians, at whose whim
we all bow.
Anyway, congrats on a great site!
William Campbell
wcampbell23@concast.net
" (William C. 2/11/2005 6:55:27 PM) |
| "Would you please send me more information about this subject?" (Terry Coulombe 2/12/2005 12:39:05 AM) |
| "Just imagine cars using this as a means of energy for travel. No need for Iraq's oil and no more war. " (dj 2/12/2005 1:27:20 PM) |
| "Ok all this is great progress but we are seriously working too slow on technology & science as it our only weapon for true survival an continuation of our un-progressed fragile human race, your probably wondering what's my point well fact is there are many unknown and brilliant scientists out there that just might be of more help than known ones that work at nasa an so on. Years ago I thought of powering moving vehicles such as cars, space-crafts etc with magnet power combined with electric&laser technoogies and it's already underway. WHY ARE WE STILL SUFFERING PRE-HISTORIC TECHNOLOGIES ??? " (Tarkan 2/13/2005 7:25:03 AM) |
| "only problem is getting energy densities raised to the point this would actually be practical. Also each time energy is converted from one form to another there is a significant loss.... current solar cells only operate around the 6% effeciancy mark so this would mean we would need to provide over 10x the current power that say an airliner uses to make the flight. So good concept but terrible idea really
RE comment made by Tarkan.... pre-historic technologies? that would be those fossilised IC engines then? and DJ where would the power come from to create the laser beam in the first place?" (Diceman 11/11/2005 4:11:27 AM) |
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