contd: laser propulsion for terrestrial vehicles

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Laser propulsion is a beam-powered propulsion method that uses an external pulsed laser to burn off a plasma plume from a solid metal propellant. The laser beam heats the object's surface, causing material to be ejected in the opposite direction of the beam. 

Car and Driver

Laser propulsion is also a theoretical concept used in Chevrolet's Vision GT concept car. The concept involves transmitting power from a remote laser station to a rocket vehicle. The laser could be located on the ground, in an airplane, or on a space station. 

Laser propulsion is an ideal way for launching small payloads, which weigh <10 kg in to the geostationary or low Earth orbit. It has also been calculated that the launching cost of a small payload using laser propulsion could be as low as $100/kg. 

use of laser propulsion in rockets as a potential space propulsion - eucass