Recent advances in the development of reactor-pumped lasers (RPL's) have stimulated renewed interest in the concept of laser-powered propulsion. This paper surveys a number of laser propulsion concepts and identifies the one that is most promising from the standpoint of practicality. It is proposed that a ground-based FALCON (Fission-Activated Laser CONcept) RPL can provide primary for this launch vehicle design. The laser-vehicle system could launch small payloads into low-earth orbit (LEO) with high repetition rates and at low costs per kilogram. For the favored design, thruster efficiencies are currently estimated to be about 50%, with 80% being seen as a potentially realizable goal after further design refinements. Laser launch system simulations indicate that with a buy-in laser power of 10 MW, it will be possible to obtain specific impulses in the range of 600 to 800 seconds and payload-to-power ratios of 1 to 3 kg/MW.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Fission-activated laser as primary power for CW laser propulsion


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1993


    Size :

    8 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Space Fission Power and Propulsion

    Houts, Mike | NTRS | 2016


    Space Fission Power and Propulsion

    G. M. Houts | NTIS | 2014


    Space Fission Propulsion and Power

    Houts, Mike / Mitchell, Sonny / Aschenbrenner, Kenneth C. et al. | NTRS | 2018


    Space Fission Power and Propulsion

    Houts, Michael G. | NTRS | 2014