Question concerning a laser powerd Solar Sail
If a space based laser is used to send a solar sailing spacecraft off toward another star system, won't the laser platform itself be accelerated in the opposite direction?
With that in mind, won't the laser platform need to be of a mass that is many multiples of the solar sailing spacecraft's mass?
Why not simply launch a spacecraft that generates photon beams (laser rockets) as a means of propulsion and skip the solar sail?
Am I missing something or does the laser powering the solar sail need to be anchored to terra firma.
Scott Evil