A constant momentum mission is achieved when the speed of the vehicle in the inertial frame of reference is equal to the speed of exhaust relative to the vehicle. Due to 100% propulsive efficiency such missions are superior to traditional constant specific impulse missions. A new class of solid binary propellants for constant momentum missions is under development. A typical propellant column is prepared as a solid solution of two components, with composition gradually changing from 100% of a propellant of high coupling coefficient to one which has high specific impulse The high coupling component is ablated first, gradually giving way to the high component, as the vehicle accelerates. This study opens new opportunities for further design of complex propellants for laser propulsion, providing variable and during missions.
Binary Solid Propellants for Constant Momentum Missions
BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: Fifth International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion ; 2007 ; Kailua‐Kona (Hawaii)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 997 , 1 ; 266-279
2008-04-28
14 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Binary Solid Propellants for Constant Momentum Missions
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