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.
Mercury Lightcraft Project Update: 3‐D Modeling, Systems Analysis and Integration
BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: Third International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion ; 2004 ; Troy, New York (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 766 , 1 ; 579-592
27.04.2005
14 pages
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Mercury Lightcraft Project Update: 3-D Modeling, Systems Analysis and Integration
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