Topic
Lightcraft
About: Lightcraft is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 140 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1552 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
TL;DR: Laser ablation propulsion (LAP) is a major new electric propulsion concept with a 35-year history as mentioned in this paper, where an intense pulsed or continuous wave (CW) strikes a condensed matter surface (solid or liquid) and produces a jet of vapor or plasma.
Abstract: LASER ablation propulsion (LAP) is a major new electric propulsion concept with a 35-year history. In LAP, an intense
laser beam [pulsed or continuous wave (CW)] strikes a condensedmatter surface (solid or liquid) and produces a jet of vapor or plasma.
Just as in a chemical rocket, thrust is produced by the resulting reaction force on the surface. Spacecraft and other objects can be propelled in this way. In some circumstances, there are advantages for this technique compared with other chemical and electric propulsion schemes. It is difficult to make a performance metric for LAP, because only a few of its applications are beyond the research phase and because it can be applied in widely different circumstances that would require entirely different metrics. These applications range from milliwatt-average-power satellite attitude-correction
thrusters through kilowatt-average-power systems for reentering near-Earth space debris and megawatt-to-gigawatt systems for direct launch to lowEarth orbit (LEO).
We assume an electric laser rather than a gas-dynamic or
chemical laser driving the ablation, to emphasize the performance as an electric thruster. How is it possible for moderate laser electrical efficiency to givevery high electrical efficiency? Because laser energy can be used to drive an exothermic reaction in the target material controlled by the laser input, and electrical efficiency only measures the ratio of exhaust power to electrical power. This distinction may
seem artificial, but electrical efficiency is a key parameter for space applications, in which electrical power is at a premium.
The laser system involved in LAP may be remote from the
propelled object (on another spacecraft or planet-based), for
example, in laser-induced space-debris reentry or payload launch to low planetary orbit. In other applications (e.g., the laser–plasma microthruster that we will describe), a lightweight laser is part of the propulsion engine onboard the spacecraft.
307 citations
6 Jul 1998
TL;DR: A laser propelled lightcraft vehicle has been successfully flown in a series of experiments conducted at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM.
Abstract: : A laser propelled Lightcraft vehicle has been successfully flown in a series of experiments conducted at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM. The flight tests, conducted under a joint USAF/NASA flight demonstration program, used a single optimized geometry scaled over a range of sizes designed to fly on the 10 kW Pulsed Laser Vulnerability Test System (PLVTS) pulsed carbon dioxide laser. The axisymmetric Lightcraft vehicles were propelled by airbreathing, pulsed-detonation engines with an infinite fuel specific impulse. Schlieren and shadowgraph pictures were taken as a function of time, and laser beam propagation studies were conducted with different focal length telescopes. Spin-stabilized free-flight launches outside the laboratory have been accomplished to altitudes approaching 30 m (100 ft).
153 citations
8 Jul 2001
TL;DR: On 2 October 2000, a 12.2-cm diameter, 50.6-gram laser-boosted rocket Lightcraft flew to a new altitude record of 71 meters (233 feet) at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.
Abstract: On 2 October 2000, a 12.2-cm diameter, 50.6-gram laser-boosted rocket Lightcraft flew to a new altitude record of 71-meters (233-ft) at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. The PLVTS 10-kW pulsed carbon dioxide laser, located on the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) powered the record flight, as well as six others two of which reached 48.4-m (159-ft) and 56-m (184-ft). These were the first outdoor vertical, spinstabilized flights of laser Lightcraft to be performed with assigned launch windows secured from NORAD, with the cooperation of WSMR range control to avoid illuminating LEO satellites and/or low flying aircraft. Besides nearly doubling the previous altitude record of 39 meters (128-ft) set on 9 July '99, the Model #200 Lightcraft simultaneously demonstrated the longest laser-powered free-flight, and the greatest 'air time' (i.e., launch-to-landing/recovery). With a modest investment of under a million dollars, a string of ever-increasing Lightcraft altitude records have been set over the past four years since the first flight on 23 April 1997. This embryonic, propulsion concept embodies "disruptive technology" that promises to radically transform our ideas about global flight transportation and space launch systems, over the next 15 to 25 years.
108 citations
TL;DR: An overview of the status of laser propulsion based on a review of the scientific literature is given in this article, where an evaluation of the advantages and limitations of the laser propulsion, as well as the types of missions for which it can best be used are discussed.
Abstract: Laser propulsion, a unique new system in which thrust is produced by the absorption of remote laser energy, has several distinct advantages over existing forms of propulsion. This article is intended as an overview of the status of laser propulsion based on a review of the scientific literature. Included in the discussion is an evaluation of the advantages and limitations of laser propulsion, as well as the types of missions for which it can best be used. The various types of proposed thrusters are also discussed, focusing on operation, current research, and unresolved problems. Also included is a thorough list of references documenting the research in this relatively young field.
101 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a computational plasma aerodynamics model is developed to study the performance of a laser-propelled lightcraft, which is based on a time-accurate, multi-dimensional, finite volume, chemically reacting, unstructured grid pressure-based formulation.
Abstract: A computational plasma aerodynamics model is developed to study the performance of a laser-propelled lightcraft. The computational methodology is based on a time-accurate, multi-dimensional, finite volume, chemically reacting, unstructured grid pressure-based formulation. The underlying physics are modeled using a building-block approach. The physics modeled include nonequilibrium thermodynamics, nonequilibrium air-plasma finite rate kinetics, specular ray tracing, laser beam energy absorption and refraction by plasma, nonequilibrium plasma radiation, and plasma resonance. A series of transient computations are performed at several laser pulse energy levels and the simulated physics are discussed and compared with those of tests and literatures. The computed impulses and coupling coefficients for the lightcraft compared reasonably well with those of tests conducted on a pendulum apparatus.
90 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |