The Lightcraft Technology Demonstration (LTD) program was initiated in 1996, by the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Propulsion Directorate at Edwards Air Force Base. The program was planned in three phases. Phase I, Lightcraft Concept Demonstration, was to demonstrate the feasibility of the basic concept. This phase ended successfully in December 1998. The basic conclusion of all this work was that the feasibility and basic physics of the Lightcraft concept had been adequately demonstrated, and that a much larger 100 kW class laser would be required to completely accomplish Phase II. Phase II, Lightcraft Vertical Launches to Extreme Altitudes, was initiated in January 1999, and was a five-year effort designed to extend Lightcraft flights in sounding rocket trajectories to 30 km, or the edge of space, with a 100 kW class CO2 laser. The first step of the Phase II vertical flight test program was to extend Lightcraft vertical free-flights to significantly higher altitudes in the range of 150 to 300 m using the 10 kW PLVTS laser. Tenth-scale, laser-powered vehicles were used. With this size vehicle, laser flight tests were conducted at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, using the 10 kW, Pulsed Laser Vulnerability Test System (PLVTS), CO2, electric discharge laser. The first composite, ceramic shroud components for the Lightcraft vehicle were fabricated, laboratory tested for performance, and flight tested. Performance details were subsequently presented comparing the composite material shroud with the all-aluminum vehicles, which had been used for most of the program.
Status Report of the X-50LR Program - A Laser Propulsion Program
2002
8 pages
Report
No indication
English
Parachutes & Decelerators , Electric & Ion Propulsion , Laser pumping , Ion engines , Parafoils , Flight testing , Air force research , Composite materials , Metal films , Feasibility studies , Aluminum , High altitude , Sounding rockets , Electrical lasers , Laser tracking , Lightcraft , Laser propulsion
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