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The driving force for the motion of any vehicle is friction, but in the case of rocket propulsion in space, the friction force is not present. The motion of a rocket changes its velocity (and hence its momentum) by ejecting burned fuel gases, thus causing it to accelerate in the direction opposite to the velocity of the ejected fuel. In this situation, the mass and velocity of the rocket constantly change along with the total mass of ejected gases. Due to conservation of momentum, the...
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The motion of a rocket is governed by the conservation of momentum principle. A rocket's momentum changes by the same amount (with the opposite sign) as the ejected gases. As time goes by, the rocket's mass (which includes the mass of the remaining fuel) continuously decreases, and its velocity increases. Therefore, the principle of conservation of momentum is used to explain the dynamics of a rocket's motion. The ideal rocket equation gives the change in velocity that a rocket...
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Low-Power Laser Sailing for Fast-Transit Space Flight.

Ho-Ting Tung1, Artur R Davoyan1

  • 1Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.

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Summary

Laser-driven light sailing offers a practical solution for space exploration propulsion. This technology enables agile orbital maneuvering and fast-transit missions using lightweight spacecraft and near-term laser systems.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Applied Physics
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Current space mission propulsion technologies limit scientific advancement and economic potential.
  • Advanced propulsion is crucial for expanding Earth's orbital capabilities and solar system exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate laser-driven light sailing as a viable propulsion method for space missions.
  • To determine the feasibility of laser propulsion for agile Earth orbital maneuvering and fast solar system/interstellar exploration.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of laser propulsion practicality based on power and array size requirements.
  • Evaluation of lightweight, wafer-scale spacecraft for laser-driven propulsion.
  • Discussion of material requirements and photonic designs for light sails.

Main Results:

  • Laser propulsion is practical with laser powers ≥100 kW and array sizes of ∼1 m, achievable in the near term.
  • Lightweight (1-100 g) wafer-scale spacecraft can be propelled to orbits beyond current system reach.
  • Silicon nitride and boron nitride show suitability for light sail applications.

Conclusions:

  • Laser-driven light sailing presents a pathway to ubiquitous Earth orbital networks.
  • This technology enables fast-transit, low-cost missions across the solar system and beyond.
  • The proposed architecture supports advanced space exploration and scientific discovery.