Proxima Centauri has an earth like planet!

[Gingerbread Demon]

Why not have the laser generators in orbit and aim them at the sails that way? No atmosphere to muck things up.

 

[lpetrich]

That adds an additional cost: launching the lasers and their power supplies into space. Maintenance is also going to be very difficult.

As a best case for pricing, I considered SpaceX's Falcon 9: Capabilities & Services | SpaceX. Its cost is advertised at about $62 million per launch, with capacities and launch costs

• Low Earth Orbit: 22,800 kg, 50,300 lb, $2,720/kg, $1,230/lb
• Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit: 8,300 kg, 18,300 lb, $7,470/kg, $3,390/lb
  
• Mars Transfer Orbit: 4,020 kg, 8,860 lb, $15,400/kg, $7,000/lb

So even in the best case, it will be *very* expensive.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

That adds an additional cost: launching the lasers and their power supplies into space. Maintenance is also going to be very difficult.

As a best case for pricing, I considered SpaceX's Falcon 9: Capabilities & Services | SpaceX. Its cost is advertised at about $62 million per launch, with capacities and launch costs

• Low Earth Orbit: 22,800 kg, 50,300 lb, $2,720/kg, $1,230/lb
• Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit: 8,300 kg, 18,300 lb, $7,470/kg, $3,390/lb
  
• Mars Transfer Orbit: 4,020 kg, 8,860 lb, $15,400/kg, $7,000/lb

So even in the best case, it will be *very* expensive.

But would it be worth considering?