Prototype Micro Laser Plasma Thruster

There exists a critical need for revolutionary, new aerospace propulsion-related technologies. The micro Laser Plasma Thruster (uLPT) which Photonic Associates originated is such a technology. Our uLPT uses a cluster of diode lasers focused to a 25mm spot on the back of a transparent tape coated with a 50mm-thick carbon-containing absorbing layer. As the tape moves across the laser focus, a high-temperature jet is created on the opposite side from the laser without burning through the tape. Under earlier funding, we developed and tested a preprototype thruster which exceeded the TechSat 21 requirement of 75mN thrust per axis. We discovered that the thrust axis could be steered 60 degrees in 10 ms by changing the electrical drive parameters. In this Phase II effort, we will build and test two copies of a rugged testbed micro laser plasma thruster. These devices will use our proprietary coating technology to generate 500 seconds specific impulse and 500 micronewtons per watt of laser light. One copy will go to AFRL Edwards for use in their micropropulsion program. We will test the other copy using both their and our laboratory facilities. Subsequently, we will use the information gained to design, build and test two copies of a commercializable prototype.