(04-21-2016, 10:23 AM)Drashner1 Wrote: Actually, I believe the issue you raise falls under what they refer to as 'policy issues' (possibly with just a dash of understatement)....
Todd
I guess the Starshot team will be forced to reconsider the location of the beamer. Which country will accept the responsibility to protect the beamer from terrorists that could use it to shoot planes in the sky, satellites etc.?
I think the option of basing the beamer on the far side of the moon should be considered. It's likely to more than double the overall cost of the project, but the establishment of a moonbase on the far side - which could double as an astronomical observatory and other uses - is a worthy goal in itself and could attract its own funding.
NASA, ESA and other space agencies have preliminary plans for a farside moonbase. While unlikely to significantly contribute to Starshot itself, the space agencies could be persuaded to contribute to the establishment of the moonbase, including transportation. Perhaps Starshot could be the catalyst that makes a moonbase happen.