A system and method for supplying thrust to a structure, such as a
satellite or spacecraft, for the purposes of station keeping and attitude
control of the structure in low-gravity (orbital) and zero-gravity
environments. The system includes devices for emitting energy beams and
targets impacted by the energy beams to cause ablation of the targets.
The beam-emitting devices and targets are adapted to cooperate and cause
the structure to selectively undergo translational and/or rotational
motion in reaction to the motion of material ablated from the targets.
The position, alignment, and/or attitude of the structure can thereby be
controlled in a zero or low-gravity environment by selectively emitting
the energy beams at the targets.