Description

The concept was created in 1976 by Leik Myrabo. Between the 1990s and early 2000s, over 100 tests were conducted, with a notable 2000 flight reaching 71 meters in altitude.

Despite the progress, high costs and technical challenges, such as energy loss through the atmosphere and the need for extremely powerful lasers, prevented large-scale implementation. The project lost support in the 2000s but remains an inspiration for directed-energy propulsion research and a visionary concept for future air and space transportation.