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Advancements in The Lightcraft Project Using Beamed Energy Propulsion

Explore the innovative Beamed Energy Propulsion system for spacecraft beyond chemical fuels, citing literature review and experimental methods for Lightcraft development. Calculations and conclusions for future industry progress and optimization.

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Advancements in The Lightcraft Project Using Beamed Energy Propulsion

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  1. The Lightcraft Project Nette Brocks Columbia High School

  2. Introduction

  3. “The industry concerned with the design and manufacture of aircraft, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, etc.”

  4. Introduction • A rocket is “any device propelled by the ejection of matter” • Challenge= finding the cheapest and most efficient fuel that can be ejected • Chemical fuels • Already operate at efficiencies so high that progress may be physically unattainable

  5. Introduction • Beamed Energy Propulsion (BEP) for an “era beyond oil” • Electromagnetic energy is beamed from a remote source to a craft for direct conversion into thrust • The majority of system mass is left on the ground

  6. Introduction

  7. Introduction

  8. Introduction

  9. Introduction 30 km

  10. Review of Literature • Dumas, Larry N., and Amy L. Walton. "Faster, Better, Cheaper: An Industrial View." ActaAstronauticaVol. 47 (2000): 607-621. Print. • Discussed the “new approach featuring focused, technically sophisticated, fast track missions.” • Davis, Eric W., and Franklin B. Mead. "Review of Laser Lightcraft Propulsion System (Preprint)." (2007). Print. • Explained the motives, configuration, benefits, life-cycle cost, estimated future costs, and Demonstration Program behind the Lightcraft

  11. Review of Literature • “Ground and Flight Tests of a Laser Propelled Vehicle,” • Elucidated the experiments of the new technology • “Flight Experiments and Evolutionary Development of a Laser Propelled, Trans-atmospheric Vehicle” • Summarized the background, technology design, and testing results of the concept.

  12. Review of Literature • Salvador, Israel I., and Leik N. Myrabo. "Airbreathing Hypersonic Laser Thermal Propulsion Experiments with a Lightcraft Vehicle- Status Update." Print • Suggested that the formation of blast waves was dependent of ignition surface • Kenoyer, David A., Israel Salvador, Leik N. Myrabo, Samuel N. Notaro, and P. W. Pragulla. "Experimental Investigation of Axial and Beam-Riding Propulsive Physics with TEA CO2 Laser." Print. • Tested lateral impulses

  13. Hypothesis

  14. Methods and Materials: Schlieren • Two Lumonics K-922M CO2 TEA lasers were fired • Laser 1 has 17 Jewels per shot; Laser 2 has 13 Jewels per shot • The beams reflected off a series of mirrors and hit a flat plate in unison • The flat plate set at 45º, 25º, and 0º angles to mimic different Lightcraft geometries

  15. Methods and Materials- Schlieren Various plate angles to determine if blast wave characteristics are independent of ignition surface

  16. Methods and Materials: AIMD • Angular Impulse Measuring Device • Lateral impulses • The Lightcraft was attached to the AIMD in an extended and a retracted position • The center of the Lightcraft was offset in increments of 5 mm • The offsets represented a range of -10% to +55% of the engine diameter

  17. Methods and Materials-AIMD • Laser 1 fired • An oscilloscope, attached to the AIMD, recorded the motion of the test engine

  18. Methods and Materials: AIMD

  19. Calculations: AIMD • Equations derived using the Equations of Motion • rc2= distance from spin axis to impulse (extended)=.1135 m • rc1= distance from spin axis to impulse (retracted)=.0786 m • IR= moment of inertia of the motor • ω=Angular velocity at moment after impulse; in radians per second

  20. Calculations: AIMD • IR= moment of inertia of the motor • Extended= 2.336E-4 Nms2 • Retracted= 9.804E-5 Nms2 • used the equation • K=spring constant=155.1N/m • r= spring distance from the spin axis = .04604 m • T=period (s) • Extended=0.1675 • Retracted=0.1085

  21. Calculations: AIMD • ω=Angular velocity at moment after impulse; in radians per second • The oscilloscope measured volts and seconds • Data was transferred from the oscilloscope to an excel chart • By taking the slope (volts/seconds) of the output voltage vs. time plot and converting using a known calibration (0.1367 volts = 1 radian), angular velocity in radians/second was calculated

  22. Calculations: AIMD • Since the angular velocity and the resulting slope changed rapidly with time, the range over which the slope was determined was reduced to a small range immediately after the laser pulse (E325:E425, D325:D425) • At the -10mm offset this domain yielded error; in this case the slope function was restricted to (E340:E425, D340:D425)

  23. Calculations: AIMD • Once impulse was calculated using this information, it was multiplied by a factor of 1000000/17 to produce the momentum coupling coefficient • The momentum coupling coefficient is equal to force thrust divided by beam power

  24. Results: AIMD

  25. Results: AIMD

  26. Discussion

  27. Conclusion • Both hypothesizes were supported • The inside of the shroud was lined with Delrin, and 00.028 grams were ablated during AIMD testing • Chipping of the propellant caused irregular results

  28. Thanks to • Dr. David Kenoyer • Dr. Israel Salvador • Dr. Leik Myrabo • Ms. Heidi Gleason • Ms. Strauss • Older and current Science Research students • Friends and family

  29. Bibliography •  “Aerospace.” Dictionary.com. Website.  • Aldrin, Buzz, and David Nolan. "A Bolder Mission." August 2009. Popular Mechanics. Print.   • Chaikin, Andrew. “For Neil Armstrong, the First Moon Walker, It Was All About Landing the Eagle.” • Davis, Eric W., and Franklin B. Mead. "Review of Laser Lightcraft Propulsion System (Preprint)." (2007). Print. • Discovery Channel. NASA in Your Home. Discovery Channel. Website. 12 Dec. 2009. http://www.dsc.discovery.com/tu/nasa/home-and-city/home-and-city-html. • Dumas, Larry N., and Amy L. Walton. "Faster, Better, Cheaper: An Industrial View." • Acta Astronautica Vol. 47 (2000): 607-621. Print. •  Edwards, Owen. “One Giant Leap.” Smithosian. Website. • Goldwasser, Samuel M. "Sam's Laser FAQ - Laser Safety." Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: Home Page (Drexel ECE Mirror). Web. 08 Oct. 2010. <http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersaf.htm#safyor0>. • HowStuffWorks. Website. 12 Dec. 2009. http://www.science.howstuffworks.com/nasa-inventions.htm. • Kenoyer, David A. "Combined Experimental and Numerical Investigations into Laser Propulsion Engineering Physics." Diss. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2010. Print. • Kenoyer, David A., Israel Salvador, Leik N. Myrabo, Samuel N. Notaro, and P. W. Pragulla. "Experimental Investigation of Axial and Beam-Riding Propulsive Physics with TEA CO2 Laser." Print. • Kenoyer, David A. Personal interview. 23 July 2010. •  "Laser-powered Jet Engine." Halfbakery. 14 Mar. 2008. Website. 28 Dec. 2010. http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Laser-powered_20Jet_20Engine.

  30. Bibliography • Lightcraft: A Laser Push to Orbit. Centauri Dreams. 14 Sep. 2009. Website. 14. Jan. 2010. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.centauri-dreams.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lightcraft1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.centauri-dreams.org/%3Fp%3D9413&usg=__ZzH_L4UmMDSsCajgmC2vR7zpYHw=&h=342&w=500&sz=30&hl=en&start=10&tbnid=vGhTa_lLOEQvDM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLightcraft%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive •  Lord, Morgan. “NASA’s New Modular Spacesuit Wil Handle Any Mission.” Popular Mechanics August 2009. Website. • Mead, Franklin B., and Leik N. Myrabo "Flight Experiments and Evolutionary Development of a Laser Propelled, Trans-atmospheric Vehicle." (1998). Print. •  Mirror.co.uk.Website. 12 Dec. 2009. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2009/07/21. •  Oberg, James. “How we'll return to the Moon.” Astronomy August 2009: 37(8), 24-29. Website. •  “Rocket.” The American Heritage Dictionary Of The English Language. New College Edition. 1978. Print. • Salvador, Israel I., and Leik N. Myrabo. "Airbreathing Hypersonic Laser Thermal Propulsion Experiments with a Lightcraft Vehicle- Status Update." Print • Salvador, Israel I. "Static and Hypersonic Experimental Analysis of Impulse Generation in Air-Breathing Laser-Thermal Propulsion." Diss. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2010. Print. •  Siuru, Bill. "Laser to Lift Lightcraft Into Space." Mechanical Engineering. Sept. 1990. 54-57. Print. •  Simpson, Bruce. My Jet Engine Projects. 12 Apr. 2009. Website. 12 Dec. 2009. http://www.aardvark.co.nz/pjet.

  31. Any questions?

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