The laser spacecraft.

The laser systems can also transit spacecraft like solar sails to their journeys to interplanetary and interstellar missions. But one of the visions is that the spacecraft and some futuristic aircraft can use lasers to expand and vaporize propellants. And that makes it possible to launch small satellites into orbit using lasers. 

In some visions, traffic between Earth and the Moon can done using laser-propelled spacecraft. The same way laser laser-propelled spacecraft can offer cheap. And noise-free options for sending miniature satellites to space. The laser-propelled spacecraft doesn't use photon rockets. The idea of the laser propellant space- and airborne systems is that laser vaporizes, a propellant that can be air or water. 

In the film, you can see how this technology demonstrator flies by hanging at the top of the laser ray. The laser ray heats air below the object, and then that heated air keeps the craft hanging in the air. The laser propellant spacecraft can use any material that the laser can vaporize as propellant. And that thing makes those engines interesting. 

The laser-propellant engines have lots of capacity. The laser beam can travel through the combustion chamber. The idea is that the laser expands the propellant that travels through the combustion chamber. That kind of engine is not very sharp about the material that travels through them. That makes them useful for interplanetary and asteroid missions. 

In an asteroid belt, the laser system can vaporize asteroid dust or water or any hydrocarbon or carbon dioxide ice at the engine. Even things. Like foam rubber can be used to create thrust.  The difference between laser and ion engines is that laser engines use neutral vaporized material. That means that the system doesn't need magnetic accelerators. 

The laser rays are easy to control. The system can aim those laser rays at the particles or the cone-shaped stick in the engine chamber. The heat in that stick will expand the propellant. 

In some other visions, the laser rays can create a channel through water or air. The laser system just pushes air or water molecules out from the craft's route. The magnetic system can also transport air or water over the craft's body. The idea for that system was for futuristic submarines that could travel faster than the speed of sound. 

But the air channel that pulls craft in it can allow to create the system, that can have incredible maneuverablity. The lasers that the system requires would be radially assembled in the craft. That gives incredible maneuverability for the craft. But if somebody goes the front of the laser, that causes bad injuries or destruction. This is why the system must aim laser beams at some objects like carbon fiber sticks. 

There were some plans. To create a saucer-shaped space shuttle, for at least low-orbital operations. The idea was that laser rays are aimed at carbon fiber sticks and raise the temperature of the stick very high. Then system injects propellant like water or hydrogen against that stick. The propellant's expansion forms the thrust. In some models, the blower pushes airflow over that stick. Then the extreme heat that laser rays form expands air. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41258682

https://www.space.com/10658-laser-rocket-propulsion-technology.html