[net.space] satellite held up by microwaves!

tim (02/12/83)

Stanford research Institute is developing a sub-scale model of
a 30 ft. diameter, ultra-lightweight passive satellite that will
be held at between 65 and 125 miles altitude only be microwaves.
There would be no on-board power --- The only thing holding it
aloft would be between 300 kW and 600 kW of radiated energy from
the ground.

It was developed by Dr. Paul Csonka, who is a professor with the
department of physics at the University of Oregon at Eugene and a
post-doctoral fellow at the Lawrence Levermore Laboratory.  A study
by the Stanford Research Institure reports that -- in the opinion of
the researchers -- the concept is entirely feasible.