Laser-ablation-powered mini-thruster

Claude R. Phipps; James R. Luke; G. Glen McDuff; Thomas Lippert

doi:10.1117/12.482038

13 September 2002 Laser-ablation-powered mini-thruster

Claude R. Phipps, James R. Luke, G. Glen McDuff, Thomas Lippert

Proceedings Volume 4760, High-Power Laser Ablation IV; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.482038
Event: International Symposium on High-Power Laser Ablation 2002, 2002, Taos, New Mexico, United States

Abstract

We have developed a new type of miniature jet for pointing microsatellites. It is based on laser ablation produced by a multi-mode diode laser. The target is a specially prepared tape with a transparent layer through which the laser light passes and an absorbing layer which produces the thrust. We have achieved specific impulse up to 1000 seconds (greater than possible with chemistry), together with laser momentum coupling coefficients of order 6 dyne/W. The preprototype should achieve 100 dynes of thrust. We will discuss the target interaction physics, the materials science involved in creating the targets, and some of our measurements with the preprototype thruster.

Citation Download Citation

Claude R. Phipps, James R. Luke, G. Glen McDuff, and Thomas Lippert "Laser-ablation-powered mini-thruster", Proc. SPIE 4760, High-Power Laser Ablation IV, (13 September 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.482038

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