Interplanetary Rapid Transit Missions from Earth to Mars using Directed Laser Energy Driven Light Sails

TL;DR

This paper proposes a laser energy driven light sail propulsion system capable of reducing Mars transit time from 150 days to 20 days, using ground-based lasers to enable rapid interplanetary missions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laser sail propulsion concept with optimized trajectories, demonstrating feasibility for 20-day Mars missions within specific launch windows and laser power requirements.

Findings

20-day transit possible with 13 GW laser array near conjunction

Optimal launch windows are within a 27-month period between 2030-2032

Laser propulsion can be scaled for higher payloads and multiple spacecraft

Abstract

Interest in the exploration of, and the establishment of a human settlement, on Mars is rapidly growing. To achieve this, rapid transit will be required to bring crucial cargo. Current missions to Mars take 150 days, which would be too long for emergencies or urgent needs. Therefore, we propose the use of a cutting-edge technology that could allow 20-day transit times: laser energy driven light sails. This propulsion method uses a ground-based laser array to propel a spacecraft attached to a light sail to high speeds, enabling missions that are much faster than current missions. By utilizing a MATLAB model and a laser propulsion tool, we visualize and determine optimal trajectories and departure windows for such missions. We discuss and show that these missions are possible during specific launch windows in a 27-month timeframe between 2030-2032, but also have practical challenges. During solar conjunction, such missions are limited by solar proximity, but are possible during all orbital phases if the transit time requirement is relaxed. Laser arrays capable of generating 13 GW are necessary to enable 20-day missions with a 5 kg spacecraft near conjunction, but only 0.55 GW is required near opposition. The spacecraft has a hyperbolic trajectory and is not bound to the solar system during transit. A challenge for future work involves the deceleration and entry, descent, and landing phases. A laser array on Mars could address some of this challenge. Spacecraft mass capabilities can be increased by optimizing the laser array and sail properties. Multiple spacecraft may be boosted simultaneously to carry more payload at lower costs. This work is intended to serve as proof of concept that lightweight payloads can be transported via such missions. Technologies enabling 20-day missions can be developed in the future and be applied to advanced missions to celestial bodies and interstellar space.