Comparisons of selected laser beam power missions to conventionally powered missions

Computer Science – Performance

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Costs, Laser Power Beaming, Laser Propulsion, Lunar Landing, Orbit Transfer Vehicles, Propulsion System Performance, Space Transportation, Spacecraft Propulsion, Earth Orbits, Lunar Bases, Lunar Orbits, Payloads, Photovoltaic Conversion, Propulsion System Configurations, Transfer Orbits

Scientific paper

Earth-based laser sites beaming laser power to space assets have shown benefits over competing power system concepts for specific missions. Missions analyzed in this report that show benefits of laser beam power are low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) transfer, LEO to low lunar orbit (LLO) cargo missions, and lunar-base power. Both laser- and solar-powered orbit-transfer vehicles (OTV's) make a 'tug' concept viable, which substantially reduces cumulative initial mass to LEO in comparison to chemical propulsion concepts. Lunar cargo missions utilizing laser electric propulsion from Earth-orbit to LLO show substantial mass saving to LEO over chemical propulsion systems. Lunar-base power system options were compared on a landed-mass basis. Photovoltaics with regenerative fuel cells, reactor-based systems, and laser-based systems were sized to meet a generic lunar-base power profile. A laser-based system begins to show landed mass benefits over reactor-based systems when proposed production facilities on the Moon require power levels greater than approximately 300 kWe. Benefit/cost ratios of laser power systems for an OTV, both to GEO and LLO, and for a lunar base were calculated to be greater than 1.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Comparisons of selected laser beam power missions to conventionally powered missions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Comparisons of selected laser beam power missions to conventionally powered missions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Comparisons of selected laser beam power missions to conventionally powered missions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1277468

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.