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Laser Ablation of Materials for Propulsion of SpacecraftA report describes experiments performed as part of a continuing investigation of the feasibility of laser ablation of materials as a means of propulsion for small spacecraft. In each experiment, a specimen of ablative material was mounted on a torsion pendulum and irradiated with a laser pulse having an energy of 5 J. The amplitude of the resulting rotation of the torsion pendulum was taken to be an indication of the momentum transferred from the laser beam. Of the ablative materials tested, aluminum foils yielded the smallest rotation amplitudes of the order of 10 degrees. Black coating materials yielded rotation amplitudes of the order of 90 degrees. Samples of silver coated with a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) copolymer yielded the largest rotation amplitudes 6 to 8 full revolutions. The report presents a theory involving heating of a confined plasma followed by escape of the plasma to explain the superior momentum transfer performance of the FEP specimens. It briefly discusses some concepts for optimizing designs of spacecraft engines to maximize the thrust obtainable by exploiting the physical mechanisms of the theory. Also discussed is the use of laser-ablation engines with other types of spacecraft engines.
Document ID
20110016815
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
External Source(s)
http://www.techbriefs.com/index.php?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=/Briefs/july04/MFS31532.html
Authors
Edwards, David L. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Carruth, Ralph (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Campbell, Jonathan (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Gray, Perry (Native American Services Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, July 2004
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Report/Patent Number
MFS-31532
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle20110016790Collected WorksNASA Tech Briefs, July 2004
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