Optimized laser launch trajectories have been developed for a 1.4 m diameter, 120 kg (empty mass) Lightcraft Technology Demonstrator (LTD). The lightcraft’s combined‐cycle airbreathing/rocket engine is designed for single‐stage‐to‐orbit flights with a mass ratio of 2 propelled by a 100 MW class ground‐based laser built on a 3 km mountain peak. Once in orbit, the vehicle becomes an autonomous micro‐satellite. Two types of trajectories were simulated with the SORT (Simulation and Optimization of Rocket Trajectories) software package: a) direct GBL boost to orbit, and b) GBL boost aided by laser relay satellite. Several new subroutines were constructed for SORT to input engine performance (as a function of Mach number and altitude), vehicle aerodynamics, guidance algorithms, and mass history. A new guidance/steering option required the lightcraft to always point at the GBL or laser relay satellite. SORT iterates on trajectory parameters to optimize vehicle performance, achieve a desired criteria, or constrain the solution to avoid some specific limit. The predicted laser‐boost performance for the LTD is undoubtedly revolutionary, and SORT simulations have helped to define this new frontier.


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    Title :

    Earth‐to‐Orbit Laser Launch Simulation for a Lightcraft Technology Demonstrator


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: Fourth International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion ; 2005 ; Nara (Japan)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 830 , 1 ; 564-575


    Publication date :

    2006-05-02


    Size :

    12 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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