Propulsion of small launch vehicles using high power millimeter waves
- Physics International Co., San Leandro, CA (United States)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)
High power microwaves have been proposed for propulsion of vehicles and projectiles in the atmosphere and in space. The requirements in terms of high power microwave technology have not been examined in any detail. The need for improved propulsion technology is clear: chemical rockets orbit only a few percent of the liftoff mass at a cost of about 3,000$/lb. The key advantage of any beamed power approach is in placing the heavy and expensive components on the ground or in space. The authors propose a system with uses a two-stage propulsion method in which the first phase of ascent is based on the ramjet principle, a repetitive Pulsed Detonation Engine which uses a microwave-supported detonation to heat the air fuel. The second phase is a pure rocket. This paper explores this propulsion concept using millimeter waves, the most advantageous part of the spectrum. They find that efficient system concepts can be developed: the vehicle can have payload-to-mass ratios on the order of one and cost per pound to orbit one or two orders of magnitude less that chemical rockets.
- OSTI ID:
- 63059
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940604-; ISBN 0-7803-2006-9; TRN: IM9527%%110
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1994 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) international conference on plasma science, Santa Fe, NM (United States), 6-8 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of 1994 IEEE international conference on plasma science; PB: 252 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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