What is a reasonable energy solution for a proposed solar system wide Laser Propulsion array?

In my fiction I'm setting up a civilization which uses Laser Propulsion for moving things between bodies within a solar system (assume Earth/sun analogy). Laser Units have been set up anchored to asteroids throughout the system, such that if you want to get from point A to point B, a range of satellites are always available which can get you going in the proper direction and then slow you back down once you need it.

So if I want to get from Earth Orbit to Mars Orbit in 3 days in a 500,000 kg vessel, I contract with the array operators to boost me and then to stop me in Mars orbit. They'd assign available satellites for the job, accept my bid for the time and energy and away I go. (with much dramatic pew-pewing)

Supposing energy generation at roughly today's power, are we talking football field sized solar collection (at Earth Orbit)? kilometers of solar collectors? More?

Im going to believable science in general. I've been studying Philip Lubin's videos and papers where he talks about setting up something similar. So far the propulsion element sound reasonable I'm just fuzzy on the energy part of things. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/roadmap_to_interstellar_flight_tagged.pdf

posted about 6 years ago

Chris W‭

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