Claim: Leik Myrabo, who first had the idea for laser-propelled Lightcraft, a space- or air-vehicle driven by beam-powered propulsion, in the early 1980s, while working on "Star Wars" anti-missile technology, co-wrote in 1985, with SF author Dean Ing, a popularization of this and other unconventional propulsion concepts in "The Future of Flight", published by Baen.
Evidence: Professor Myrabo first had the idea for laser-propelled Lightcraft in the early 1980s, while working on "Star Wars" anti-missile technology. The Lightcraft is a space- or air-vehicle driven by beam-powered propulsion, the energy source powering the craft being external. 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.