LaserMotive Sets New Power Beaming Records at 2009 Space Elevator Games; Becomes First Team Ever to Win the NASA-Sponsored Competition

SEATTLE--(Business Wire)--
LaserMotive, an independent research and development company specializing in
laser power beaming technology, has set new scientific records for laser power
beaming and earned a prize of nearly $1 million at the 2009 Space Elevator
Games, marking the first time any organization has won this NASA-sponsored
competition since its origin in 2005.

Part of the NASA Centennial Challenges program, the Games are designed to foster
technologies that can be used in the Space Elevator, but which are also
applicable to nearer-term NASA programs. LaserMotive won the Power Beaming
Competition, which focuses on wireless energy beaming technology that can power
remote ground stations, aerial vehicles, satellites, planetary rovers, or even
an Elevator to Space.

To win, LaserMotive demonstrated a complete power beaming system that was used
to power a robotic climber to a height of 3,280 feet. It was the only entrant to
develop its own laser system, which was built around infrared laser diode arrays
supplied by DILAS Laser Diodes Inc.

Among the records LaserMotive set at this year`s competition include:

* Greatest distance for laser power beaming: 1 km (3280 ft., 0.62 miles)

* Most power transferred to a receiver: over 1 kW

* Highest efficiency power beaming: over 10%, DC power to DC power

* Fastest climbing speed up a cable at this competition: 3.97 m/s (8.88 miles
per hour)

"Now that we have dramatically demonstrated the capabilities of laser power
beaming, we will be going on to new projects," said Dr. Jordin Kare, chief
engineer for the project. "We look forward to working with NASA and DOD, as well
as with our industrial partners, to develop laser power beaming systems for
aerospace and military applications. We also hope to develop commercial products
based on our technologies. We will be evaluating several possible markets over
the next few months."

Headquartered in Kent, Wash., LaserMotive is a privately-held R&D company
specializing in laser power beaming for commercial applications. The company was
co-founded in 2006 by Dr. Jordin Kare, one of the foremost experts on laser
propulsion, and Tom Nugent, former director of research for LiftPort Group - the
Space Elevator Companies. Its industry partners include some of the leading
companies in aerospace and lasers, including The Boeing Company, DILAS, Andrews
Space, MS Kennedy, Glendale, 4D Optical, and In-Tec. For more information,
including a technical overview on LaserMotive`s winning entry in the Games,
please visit the company website at www.lasermotive.com.

Belinda Young Public Relations
Belinda Young, 206-932-3156
byoung@bypr.com
or
LaserMotive
Tom Nugent, President
info@lasermotive.com

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