©2000 LTI
How can LTI reduce launch costs?

Conventional Launch The Lightcraft
$175,000,000 $46,000
    Chemical Rockets:
  • carry massive propulsion source on board
  • are expendable
  • extremely costly
  • prone to explosion due to fuel on board
    Laser Propulsion:
  • propulsion energy source remains on the ground!
  • Lightcraft are inexpensive to manufacture and extremely light weight
  • highly reusable power source is never subjected to the risks of flight

LEO Satellite Launch Cost Comparisons

Conventional Rockets
Atlas/Delta = $50-90 million + $125 million*
(large satellite: greater than 1000 kg)
Pegasus = $18 million + $20 million*
(mini satellite: 100-500 kg)
 
LTI Laser Propulsion
Lightcraft Tech. = $24,000 + $22,000*
(nano-satellite: 1-10 kg)
(micro-satellite: 10-100 kg)
 
*LEO satellite launch cost = boost cost + satellite cost

Example application

Teledesic needs to launch 288 mini satellites for their 2003 LEO constellation. Using current launch technologies, it may cost them:

  • $38 M X 288 = $ 10,944 million

    With Lightcraft technology it may cost them:

  • $46,000 X 288 = $ 13 million

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