200-MW 2.026-/spl mu/m He/Ar/Xe pump laser for space propulsion

Remote laser propulsion can launch kg-ton payloads to earth orbit without also launching much higher quantities of fuel. He/Ar/Xe is the best nuclear-pumped laser (NPL) for steady-state operation for two reasons: it lases at /spl sim/50 W/cm/sup 3/, lowest of any high energy NPL, and He has the best heat transfer properties of any NPL gas.