You may have heard or come across the below before, but if not, here you go...
Eric Davis wrote a Defense Intelligence Reference Document (DIRDS PDF) for AAWSAP about a conceptual "Lightcraft." Described as looking like "a fat acorn," it reminds me of the Nazi bell, the Kecksburg UFO/Acorn and the Knapp/Corbell Acorn.
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EarthTech
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Review Of Laser Lightcraft Propulsion System
The "Lightcraft" is a laser-propelled spacecraft concept that could ultimately run on other beamed energies, such as microwave. NASA been working on this since the 70s.
The TTSA club was looking into this at one point.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS): Apollo Lightcraft Project (1999)
During the 1980's the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) research lead to the invention of the Laser Lightcraft concept. All the exciting aerospace concepts: Rotary Detonation Engine for liftoff, hypersonic airbreathing propulsion powered by laser pulses, an E-beam-ionized superconducting MHD-Fanjet to Mach 25 and then a hydrogen thermal rocket to orbit.
Eric Davis wrote a Defense Intelligence Reference Document (DIRDS PDF) for AAWSAP about a conceptual "Lightcraft." Described as looking like "a fat acorn," it reminds me of the Nazi bell, the Kecksburg UFO/Acorn and the Knapp/Corbell Acorn.
EarthTech
Review Of Laser Lightcraft Propulsion System
The "Lightcraft" is a laser-propelled spacecraft concept that could ultimately run on other beamed energies, such as microwave. NASA been working on this since the 70s.
The TTSA club was looking into this at one point.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS): Apollo Lightcraft Project (1999)
During the 1980's the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) research lead to the invention of the Laser Lightcraft concept. All the exciting aerospace concepts: Rotary Detonation Engine for liftoff, hypersonic airbreathing propulsion powered by laser pulses, an E-beam-ionized superconducting MHD-Fanjet to Mach 25 and then a hydrogen thermal rocket to orbit.
Quote:The detailed design of a beam-powered transatmospheric vehicle, The Apollo Lightcraft", was selected as the project for the design course. The vehicle has a lift-off gross weight of about six (6) metric tons and has the capability to transport 500 kg of payload (five people plus spacesuits) to low Earth orbit. Beam power wad limited to 10 gigawatts. The principle goal of this project is to reduce the LEO payload delivery cost by at least three orders of magnitude below the Space Shuttle Orbiter - in the post 2020 era.
The completely reusable, single stage to-orbit shuttlecraft will take off and land vertically, and have a reentry heat shield integrated with its lower surface - much like the Apollo Command Module. At appropriate points along the launch trajectory, the combined-cycle propulsion system will transition through three or four air breathing modes, and finally use a pure rocket mode for orbital insertion.
As with any revolutionary flight vehicle, engine development must proceed first. Hence, the objective for the Spring semester propulsion course was to design and perform a detailed theoretical analysis on an advanced combined-cycle engine suitable for the Apollo Lightcraft. The class determined that only three air breathing cycles would satisfy the mission, and that the ramjet cycle is unnecessary.
APOLLO LIGHTCRAFT PROJECT (PDF, 1987)
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