LaserMotive to Work on NASA’s ‘Ride the Light’ Project

LaserMotive, an independent R&D company specializing in laser power beaming, is among the companies named to work on the new NASA “Ride the Light” project, a program in the Game Changing Technology division to pursue the revolutionary technology required for future missions.

”Ride the Light” will use beamed power and propulsion produced by commercially available power sources such as lasers and microwave energy to attempt to develop a low-cost, modular power beaming capability and explore multiple technologies to function as receiving elements of the beamed power.

LaserMotive has experience in developing its own laser power beaming system, based on technology it developed for its winning entry in the 2009 NASA Power Beaming Challenge. The company has this technology to set world records for laser-powered helicopter flight, first in August 2010 at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Conference in Denver, Colo., and again in October 2010 at the Future of Flight in Mukilteo, Wash.

“LaserMotive believes that laser power beaming not only has the ability to provide an endless fuel supply to air and space craft, but it also has the potential to extend their abilities, improve their endurance and enable new missions,” said Tom Nugent, president and co-founder of LaserMotive.

Following the Phase One studies, NASA expects to make an implementation decision in 2012.

For more information, visit: www.lasermotive.com