Binary blends of polymer propellants for laser-driven constant momentum propulsion.

摘要

Ablative laser propulsion has been proposed as a desirable low cost means for future transport of small terrestrial vehicles and spacecrafts. Laser propulsion offers a high payload to rocket mass ratio and final velocities beyond the reach of conventional rockets. Laser ablation of polymers offers means for "constant momentum" missions with an external efficiency approaching unity. The primary result of this research shows that constant momentum propulsion can be achieved through ablation of binary solid blends of polymers.