Investigations of Laser Ablation Thrusters for Accurate Attitude Control of Spacecraft

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26630450
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Funaki Ikkoh 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (50311171)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HORISAWA Hideyuki 東海大学, 工学部, 教授 (30256169)
• Research Collaborator: OSHIO Yuya 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, プロジェクト研究員 ; HIGASHIURA Kohsuke 法政大学, 大学院理工学研究科, 大学院生 ; KUBO Kai 法政大学, 大学院理工学研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 航空宇宙工学 / 推進・エンジン / レーザー / マイクロスラスタ / イオン液体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Experimental study of laser micro-thruster was conducted. Targeting at laser thruster without any valve to supply propellant, metal as well as liquid propellant were employed and it was tested by a system consisting of propellant target and a thrust stand mounting the propellant target, both of which were installed inside a vacuum chamber. When infrared laser beam was irradiated from outside the vacuum chamber, the propellant was found to released as a plasma jet. From the result, the concept of laser micro-thruster with variable thrust level was demonstrated, but it should work in a more wide condition to directly apply the system to accurate spacecraft attitude control.

Free Research Field

航空宇宙工学