Transfers from Earth to LEO and LEO to interplanetary space using lasers

New data on some materials at 80ps pulse duration and 1057 nm wavelength give us the option of proportionally combining them to obtain arbitrary values between 35 (aluminum) and 800 N/MW (POM, polyoxymethylene) for momentum coupling coefficient Cm. Laser ablation physics lets us transfer to LEO from Earth, or to interplanetary space using repetitively pulsed lasers and Cm values appropriate for each mission. We discuss practical results for lifting small payloads from Earth to LEO, and space missions such as a cis-Mars orbit with associated laser system parameters. •New approach to launching small payloads into low Earth orbit, or interplanetary orbit from LEO.•25 kg flyer is a sphere of laser ablation fuel surrounding payload, discarded at end of mission.•Mass fraction m/M up to 61% delivered to LEO, a factor-of-10 improvement over chemical rockets.•Mass fraction m/M of 54% for launching an inspection craft to GEO and 35% launching to Mars from LEO.•An application is monitoring global climate using constellations of Earth-observing microsats.