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.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

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


    Contributors:

    Conference:

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


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 766 , 1 ; 579-592


    Publication date :

    2005-04-27


    Size :

    14 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    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


    Apollo Lightcraft Project

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


    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. / Atonison, Mark A. / Chen, Sammy G. et al. | NTRS | 1989