Laser powered space travel

This could drop costs to $250/lb instead of the current ~$15000/lb. [Link]

This site has looked at arrays of laser modules for launching into space several times before and considers it a very promising approach.

Jordin Kare had a proposed development plan to demonstrate a one megawatt launch system over 4.5 years for $32 million back in 2005. It did not get funded but Jordin is working at Lasermotive and they are providing the laser power system for the space elevator challenge that will be held in April 26, 2009 [tentative]. Laser power beaming will be demonstrated, but the clock on the laser launch roadmap is not running as well as a funded laser launch program.