This paper is a progress report on the laser‐propelled Mercury Lightcraft Project at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The laser‐propelled, 1‐person craft has a diameter of 252‐cm, height of 217‐cm, internal volume of 3 m3, ‘dry’ mass of 700 kg, and gross liftoff mass of 1 metric ton. Expendable liquids including 70 kg of liquid hydrogen, and an equivalent mass (at least) of de‐ionized water serves as open‐cycle coolants for the 520 MWe laser/electric power conversion system. Its hyper‐energetic airbreathing engine can easily accelerate the vehicle at 10 Gs or more. The tractor‐beam lightcraft is intended as a prototype for use in a future global aerospace transportation system based on a constellation of satellite solar power stations in geostationary orbit, with laser relay stations in low Earth orbit. Using SolidWorks® 3‐D modeling software, several important features were successfully integrated into the Mercury lightcraft model — principally: a rotating shroud (for spin stabilization); simple actuation system for a new variable‐geometry air inlet; refined optical train for the laser‐heated H2 plasma generators; pneumatically deployed, robotic quadra‐pod landing gear; ejection seat/pod/hatch system; and a more detailed airframe structural concept. The CAD effort has brought the Mercury Lightcraft concept one significant step closer to reality.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Mercury Lightcraft Project Update: 3‐D Modeling, Systems Analysis and Integration


    Beteiligte:
    Buckton, Thomas W. (Autor:in) / Myrabo, Leik N. (Autor:in) / Pakhomov, Andrew V. (Herausgeber:in) / Myrabo, Leik N. (Herausgeber:in)

    Kongress:

    BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: Third International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion ; 2004 ; Troy, New York (USA)


    Erschienen in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 766 , 1 ; 579-592


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    27.04.2005


    Format / Umfang :

    14 pages





    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    Mercury Lightcraft Project Update: 3-D Modeling, Systems Analysis and Integration

    Buckton, T. / Myrabo, L. N. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Lightcraft Project

    D. G. Messitt / L. N. Myrabo | NTIS | 1991


    Propulsion Systems Integration for a `Tractor Beam' Mercury Lightcraft: Liftoff Engine

    Myrabo, L. N. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Apollo Lightcraft Project

    Myrabo, Leik N. / Smith, Wayne L. / Decusatis, Casimer et al. | NTRS | 1988


    The lightcraft project

    Messitt, Don G. / Myrabo, Leik N. | NTRS | 1991