Remotely controlled steering gear for a laser-driven rocket with a parabolic thruster

Abstract

A new steering concept for laser-driven parabolic thrusters is presented. As an alternative to the well-tried spin-stabilization our concept provides rocket stabilization and trajectory control and is suitable for the injection of a laser-driven launcher into a planetary orbit: Angular and lateral momentum components are systematically applied to the rocket by specific variation of the ignition configuration inside the parabolic thruster. The impact of the tilting angle of the steering gear against the axis of symmetry on momentum coupling is examined as well as the influence of pulse energy and ignition geometry. Based on the experimental results an off-axis detonation is modeled with respect to the fluence distribution at the ignition area and the resulting force components. A demonstrator model of a laser-driven rocket with a parabolic thruster has been constructed including a remotely controlled steering gear and a separate payload fraction. Test flights employing a high energy CO2 laser have been performed successfully.