Editing Beam-powered propulsion (section)

===Laser thermal rocket===
{{Main|Thermal rocket}}
A laser thermal rocket is a [[thermal rocket]] in which the propellant is heated by energy provided by an external laser beam.<ref>H. Krier and R. J. Glumb. [http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/3.8610 "Concepts and status of laser-supported rocket propulsion"], ''Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets'', Vol. 21, No. 1 (1984), pp. 70-79.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.8610</ref><ref>{{cite book | chapter-url=http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/5.9781600865633.0129.0148 | doi=10.2514/5.9781600865633.0129.0148 | chapter=Laser Thermal Propulsion | title=Orbit-Raising and Maneuvering Propulsion: Research Status and Needs | year=1984 | pages=129–148 | isbn=978-0-915928-82-8 }}</ref> 
In 1992, the late [[Jordin Kare]] proposed a simpler, nearer-term concept with a rocket containing liquid hydrogen.<ref>Kare, J. T. (1992). Development of Laser-Driven Heat Exchanger Rocket for Ground to-Orbit Launch. Washington, DC International Astronautical Federation Congress. {{bibcode|1992wadc.iafcQY...K}}</ref> The propellant is heated in a heat exchanger that the laser beam shines on before leaving the vehicle via a conventional nozzle. This concept can use continuous beam lasers, and the semiconductor lasers are now cost-effective for this application.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/fellows/mar04/897Kare.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/fellows/mar04/897Kare.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live | title=Modular Laser Launch Architecture: Analysis and Beam Module Design | work=niac.usra.edu | date=March 24, 2004 | access-date=July 19, 2016 | author=Jordin T. Kare}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jkare.com/VG_HX_4-29-SAS.pdf |access-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724205642/http://www.jkare.com/VG_HX_4-29-SAS.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2011|title=HX Laser Launch: It's Steamship Time}}</ref>