Imperative of adopting a new access-to-space paradigm and the role of the laser ablation propulsion launch system (LAPLaS)

Iouri Pigulevski

doi:10.1117/1.OE.58.1.011002

22 September 2018 Imperative of adopting a new access-to-space paradigm and the role of the laser ablation propulsion launch system (LAPLaS)

Iouri Pigulevski

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 58, Issue 1, 011002 (September 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.58.1.011002

Abstract

In the not so distant future, the laser ablation propulsion rockets powered by ground-based high average power laser will challenge the existing techniques of accessing space based on chemical propulsion. Chemical rocket propulsion, which made access to space possible to begin with and continues to be the only technology in use to that end, cannot, however, adequately serve the emerged and quickly growing launch-to-orbit needs of the pico-nano-micro-satellites niche markets. No further technological improvements in chemical rocket propulsion can change its well-known inherent limitations and disadvantages. The ongoing and imminent developments in the satellites’ markets as well as the timeless fundamental need in robust low-cost ground-to-orbit logistics urgently call for adopting a new game-changing technological paradigm for accessing space. By elaborating and expanding on the potentially key role of the laser ablation propulsion launch system in enabling the affordable and safe access to space, this paper logically continues the author’s previous work “Optimizing access to space: ground-to-orbit logistics framework (GOLF)” published in 2017 in the New Space journal.

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Iouri Pigulevski "Imperative of adopting a new access-to-space paradigm and the role of the laser ablation propulsion launch system (LAPLaS)," Optical Engineering 58(1), 011002 (22 September 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.58.1.011002

Received: 22 June 2018; Accepted: 26 July 2018; Published: 22 September 2018

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