Editing Beam-powered propulsion (section)

==Non-spacecraft applications==

In 1964 [[William C. Brown]] demonstrated a miniature [[helicopter]] equipped with a combination [[antenna (electronics)|antenna]] and [[rectifier]] device called a [[rectenna]]. The rectenna converted microwave power into electricity, allowing the helicopter to fly.<ref>[http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0474925 EXPERIMENTAL AIRBORNE MICROWAVE SUPPORTED PLATFORM] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302204238/http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0474925 |date=March 2, 2010 }} Descriptive Note : Final rept. Jun 64-Apr 65<!--both links are dead, archive.org link needs an attempt to fix --> </ref>

In 2002 a Japanese group propelled a tiny aluminium airplane by using a laser to vaporize a water droplet clinging to it, and in 2003 NASA researchers flew an 11-ounce (312 g) model airplane with a propeller powered with solar panels illuminated by a laser.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-087-DFRC.html|title=NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Beamed Laser Power for UAVs|date=2015-03-31}}</ref> It is possible that such beam-powered propulsion could be useful for long-duration high altitude uncrewed aircraft or balloons, perhaps designed to serve – like satellites do today – as communication relays, science platforms, or surveillance platforms.

A "[[laser broom]]" has been proposed to sweep [[space debris]] from Earth orbit. This is another proposed use of beam-powered propulsion, used on objects not designed to be propelled by it, for example, small pieces of scrap knocked off ("spalled") satellites. The technique works since the laser power ablates one side of the object, giving an impulse that changes the eccentricity of the object's orbit. The orbit would then intersect the atmosphere and burn up.