Solar thermal propulsion's multiple facets were studied and its application was looked at briefly. The efficiency and capability of select solar propulsion components were tested. During my brief tenure, several sinai' projects were begun, some completed. A calorimetry experiment tested the power output of the existing rigid concentrator. The process of constructing and testing an inflatable concentrator for slope errors and its power output was initiated. Slope errors will be measured using laser ray tracing techniques. A shutter was designed to quickly allow or block the passage of light onto the test subject in order to take more accurate measurements. Finally, different absorber, thruster, and propellant types and combinations were studied. Phillips Laboratory has been testing several different components in various important areas over the past 13 years. The ground tests will eventually provide enough information to build flight hardware. This culmination into several flight tests is the next step to reality of solar thermal propulsion.
Solar Thermal Propulsion from Concept to Reality
1996
12 pages
Report
No indication
English
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