The Lightcraft Technology Demonstration Program. Part 1
Abstract
Part I - The Lightcraft Technology Demonstration Program (LTD) is a report on the development of laser propulsion at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) between 1996 and 1999. The LTD Program was originally planned in five phases. Phase I, Lightcraft Concept Demonstration, was to demonstrate the feasibility of the basic concept. This phase ended in December 1998. Phase II, Lightcraft Vertical Launches to Extreme Altitudes, was a five-year effort designed to extend Lightcraft flights in sounding rocket trajectories to 30 km with a 100 kW pulsed CO2 laser. Phase III, Lightcraft Dual Mode Vehicle, was planned as a two-year effort designed to launch the first laser-propelled vehicle, a functional Lightcraft, into space. Phase IV was to be a far-term effort, to be conducted over the next 10 to 15 years, to develop a launch capability for Lightcraft weighing 100 kg and costing less than $1.5M to build and launch. The LTD concept was a nanosatellite in which the laser propulsion engine and satellite hardware were intimately shared. The forebody aeroshell acted as an external compression surface (i.e., the airbreathing engine inlet). The afterbody had a dual function as a primary receptive optic (parabolic mirror) for the laser beam and as an external expansion surface (plug nozzle) during the laser rocket mode which is used only in space. The primary thrust structure was the annular shroud. The shroud served as both air inlet and impulsive thrust surface during the airbreathing mode. In the rocket mode, the inlets are closed, and the afterbody and shroud combine to form the rocket thrust chamber and plug ("aerospike type") nozzle.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA475937
Entities
People
- Franklin B. Mead Jr.
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory