It could soon be a reality that shuttles are being launched into space by beaming power to them using microwaves. First tests have brought success for the radical engine and the power was enough to launch a spacecraft into space.

The firm that came up with the concept has to say that eliminating the needs of loading fuel in a spacecraft would result in making it much lighter during a lunch. Besides, it paves the way for reusing it with ease.

High power microwave energy was recently beamed by the firm Escape Dynamics while conducting tests. The performance took the limit of chemical combustion rockets to a greater level.

The firm is looking ahead to make use of microwave energy which will be delivered wirelessly to a heat exchanger on the spaceplane. The delivery of the energy during the entire ascent will be ensured by a phased array of microwave antennas located on the ground.

To propel a spacecraft, Escape Dynamics plans to eject hydrogen and heat it with the microwave energy as it passes through the heat exchanger. It will ultimately exhaust though the nozzle creating thrust. The mechanism is free of chemical combustion.

"With this technology, we can uniquely bring to market reusable, single-stage-to-orbit spaceplanes, and aircraft-like operations to orbit, and significantly decrease the cost of access to space for payloads up to 200 kg", said Laetitia Garriott, the president of the firm.

The firm has successfully demonstrated a new propulsion technology, which surpasses the limits of chemical rockets.