Claim: Leik Myrabo, who designed in 1985, with SF author Dean Ing, a popularization of this and other unconventional propulsion concepts in "The Future of Flight", published by Baen, first had the idea for laser-propelled Lightcraft in the early 1980s, while working on "Star Wars" anti-missile technology.
Evidence: In 1985 he co-wrote, with SF author Dean Ing, a popularization of this and other unconventional propulsion concepts in "The Future of Flight", published by Baen. Professor Myrabo first had the idea for laser-propelled Lightcraft in the early 1980s, while working on "Star Wars" anti-missile technology.